# Waterford Courthouse > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Waterford_Courthouse > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Waterford_Courthouse.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterford_Courthouse > Source revision: 1345620951 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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](/source/Waterford), [County Waterford](/source/County_Waterford) | location_city = | location_country = [Ireland](/source/Republic_of_Ireland) | pushpin_map = Ireland | pushpin_label = Waterford Courthouse | coordinates = {{coord|52.2574|-7.1063|display=inline,title}} | completion_date = 1849 | architect = [John B. Keane](/source/John_B._Keane_(architect)) | architectural_style = [Neoclassical style](/source/Neoclassical_architecture) }} '''Waterford Courthouse''' is a judicial facility in Catherine Street, [Waterford](/source/Waterford), [County Waterford](/source/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](/source/Augustinians) Priory of St Catherine occupied the site.{{Sfn|Burns|O'Connor|O'Riordan|2019|p=120}} The courthouse was designed by [John B. Keane](/source/John_B._Keane_(architect)).{{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}} The builder was Terence O'Reilly, and was built between 1848 and 1849. The building was originally used as a facility for dispensing justice but, following the implementation of the [Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898](/source/Local_Government_(Ireland)_Act_1898), which established county councils in every county, it also became the first meeting place for [Waterford County Council](/source/Waterford_County_Council).{{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}} It was agreed, however, that subsequent meetings would be held at [Dungarvan Courthouse](/source/Dungarvan_Courthouse). 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.{{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}} 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. As part of these works, a disused fire station was demolished, as was the original 1984 extension of the courthouse.{{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}} The Waterford Courthouse was officially re-opened by [Charles Flanagan](/source/Charles_Flanagan), [Minister for Justice and Equality](/source/Minister_for_Justice%2C_Home_Affairs_and_Migration), in April 2018.{{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}} == Architecture == Built of ashlar granite, the original courthouse building is in the [neoclassical](/source/Neoclassical_architecture) style, and features a [pediment](/source/pediment)ed hexastyle [Ionic](/source/Ionic_order) [portico](/source/portico).{{Sfn|Burns|O'Connor|O'Riordan|2019|p=120}} It is similar to in both plan and elevation to [Tullamore Courthouse](/source/Tullamore_Courthouse) and [Ennis Courthouse](/source/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, following the 2015–2018 renovations, the courthouse now contains 6 courtrooms. The building features a four-storey [atrium](/source/Atrium_(architecture)) which acts as a [rotunda](/source/Rotunda_(architecture)), 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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Waterford Courthouse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterford_Courthouse) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterford_Courthouse?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.