{{Short description|Neoclassical courthouse in Waterford, Ireland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Use Irish English|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox building | name = Waterford Courthouse | native_name = | image = Waterford Court Office, 2021-06-01.jpg | caption = | address = Waterford, County Waterford | location_city = | location_country = Ireland | pushpin_map = Ireland | pushpin_label = Waterford Courthouse | coordinates = {{coord|52.2574|-7.1063|display=inline,title}} | completion_date = 1849 | architect = John B. Keane | architectural_style = Neoclassical style }} '''Waterford Courthouse''' is a judicial facility in Catherine Street, Waterford, County Waterford, Ireland.
== History == thumb|left|Waterford Courthouse, 1906 The current building is the second courthouse to occupy the site. It replaced a courthouse designed by James Gandon which was constructed in 1784, and occupied the site until roughly 1840.{{Sfn|Dunne|Phillips|1999|p=322}} In the 12th century, the Augustinian Priory of St Catherine occupied the site.{{Sfn|Burns|O'Connor|O'Riordan|2019|p=120}} The courthouse was designed by John B. Keane.<ref name=boi>{{cite web|url=https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/22504492/waterford-courthouse-waterford-city-county-waterford|title=Waterford Courthouse|publisher=Buildings of Ireland|accessdate=22 November 2019}}</ref> The builder was Terence O'Reilly, and was built between 1848 and 1849.<ref name="boi" /> The building was originally used as a facility for dispensing justice but, following the implementation of the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, which established county councils in every county, it also became the first meeting place for Waterford County Council.<ref name="observer">{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/dungarvanobserver/docs/dungarvan-observer-11-1-2019-editio|title=The Powers of St Brigid's Well Brewery|publisher=Dungarvan Observer|date=11 January 2019|accessdate=22 November 2019|archive-date=28 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228033027/https://issuu.com/dungarvanobserver/docs/dungarvan-observer-11-1-2019-editio|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was agreed, however, that subsequent meetings would be held at Dungarvan Courthouse.<ref name="observer" />
By the 1970s, the building had fallen into a state of serious disrepair, and in 1977 roughly two-thirds of the original building was demolished.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Waterford Courthouse|url=https://www.courts.ie/waterford-courthouse|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131113235/https://www.courts.ie/waterford-courthouse|archive-date=31 January 2022|access-date=31 January 2022|website=courts.ie}}</ref> All that was left was the front façade, the "shell" of the two courtooms, and the concourse which linked them.{{Sfn|Burns|O'Connor|O'Riordan|2019|p=120}} The interior of the courthouse was refurbished in 1980.{{Sfn|Dunne|Phillips|1999|p=322}}
Extensive refurbishment and expansion of the courthouse began in 2015.<ref name="boi" /> As part of these works, a disused fire station was demolished, as was the original 1984 extension of the courthouse.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Waterford Courthouse, Co. Waterford {{!}} Wejchert Architects|url=http://www.wejchert.ie/projects/project-detail/waterford-courthouse-co-waterford|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131111948/http://www.wejchert.ie/projects/project-detail/waterford-courthouse-co-waterford|archive-date=31 January 2022|access-date=2022-01-31|website=www.wejchert.ie}}</ref> The Waterford Courthouse was officially re-opened by Charles Flanagan, Minister for Justice and Equality, in April 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/new-waterford-courthouse-3950259-Apr2018/|title=Waterford's new €25.9m courthouse opened this week – take a look|publisher=The Journal|date=14 April 2018|accessdate=22 November 2019}}</ref>
== Architecture == Built of ashlar granite, the original courthouse building is in the neoclassical style, and features a pedimented hexastyle Ionic portico.{{Sfn|Burns|O'Connor|O'Riordan|2019|p=120}}<ref name="boi" /> It is similar to in both plan and elevation to Tullamore Courthouse and Ennis Courthouse, both of which were also designed by Keane.{{Sfn|Dunne|Phillips|1999|p=322}} As part of the 2015-2018 renovations, a granite-paved plaza was created on Catherine Street, in place of the old fire station.{{Sfn|Burns|O'Connor|O'Riordan|2019|p=126}}
Originally built with two courtrooms,<ref name=":1"/> following the 2015–2018 renovations, the courthouse now contains 6 courtrooms.<ref name=":0"/> The building features a four-storey atrium which acts as a rotunda, with entrances to all 6 of the courtrooms accessible from this central space.{{Sfn|Burns|O'Connor|O'Riordan|2019|p=126}}
== References == === Notes === {{reflist|}}
=== Sources === {{Refbegin|}} *{{Cite book|last1=Burns|first1=Paul|title=Ireland's Court Houses|last2=O'Connor|first2=Ciarán|last3=O'Riordan|first3=Colum|publisher=The Irish Architectural Archive|year=2019|isbn=978-0-9956258-1-5|location=Dunlin, Ireland|pages=120-126}} * {{cite book|last1=Dunne|first1=Mildred|title=The Courthouses of Ireland: A gazetteer of Irish courthouses|last2=Phillips|first2=Brian|publisher=The Heritage Council|year=1999|isbn=1-901137-13-9|location=Kilkenny|pages=322–324}} {{Refend}}
Category:Buildings and structures in County Waterford Category:Courthouses in the Republic of Ireland