A Waterford crystal chandelier

Waterford Crystal is a trademark brand of crystal glassware, previously produced in Waterford, Ireland, though the factory there was shut down after the receivership of Waterford Wedgwood plc in early 2009 ^[1]. Waterford Crystal is still produced in other locations throughout Europe, notably Germany and the Czech Republic, by the company WWRD Holdings Ltd.

[edit] History

An employee at Waterford Crystal glass cutting.

A crystal business was originally founded in the city in 1783 by George and William Penrose; it produced extremely fine crystal that became world-renowned. However, their company closed in 1851.^[2] In 1947, Czech immigrant Charles Bacik, grandfather of Irish senator Ivana Bacik, established a glass works in the city, due to the superb reputation of the original glassware. Aided by fellow countryman and designer Miroslav Havel, the company started operations in a depressed Ireland. By the early 1950s it had been taken over as a subsidiary of the Irish Glass Bottle company, owned by McGrath, Duggan and Freeman of the Irish Hospitals' Sweepstake, heavy investors in Irish business at that time.^[3]

Glass blower at Waterford glass factory

In May 2005, Waterford Wedgwood announced the closure of its factory in Dungarvan in order to consolidate all operations into the main factory in Kilbarry, Waterford City, where 1,000 people were employed by the company. The move resulted in nearly 500 Dungarvan workers losing their jobs.

The Kilbarry operation featured a tourist centre offering guided tours of the factory, a gift shop, cafe, and gallery. After the closure of that factory on Jan 30th, 2009, former employees and their families staged a sit in, hoping to prevail upon receiver Deloitte to retain those jobs ^[4]. The sit in ended in March, 2009 after workers agreed split payment of €10m ^[5] The worker's fight to keep the factory open is chronicled in a PBS online documentary[5].

Waterford Crystal Limited was, until March 2009, a subsidiary of Waterford Wedgwood plc, itself formed through the acquisition by the then Waterford Glass Group of the famous pottery manufacturer Josiah Wedgwood in 1986. The last chairman was Tony O'Reilly, and the CEO John Foley. The leading shareholders of the holding company are former billionnaire O'Reilly and his family, joined in the last decade by O'Reilly's brother-in-law, Greek shipping heir Peter Goulandris. That company was forced into receivership in early 2009.

Under the receivership managed by Deloitte, ownership of most of Waterford Wedgwood plc's assets was tranfered to KPS Capital in March 2009. Waterford Crystal, along with Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, and other brands, were transferred to the new company WWRD Holdings Ltd ^[6]. The sale did not include the factory or visitor centre in Kilbary, Ireland.

[edit] 2009 troubles

On 5 January 2009, news of the receivership of Waterford Wedgwood Ltd. was announced in Ireland and the UK.^[7]

On 30 January 2009 it was announced that the Waterford Crystal plant in Kilbarry was to shut down immediately, despite earlier promises to discuss any such move with the unions in advance. Many of the employees performed an unoffical sit-in.^[8] The sit-in made the BBC News^[9] On 4 February 2009, there were protests across the city at how the workers were being treated.

On 27 February 2009, the receiver, David Carson of Deloitte, confirmed US equity firm KPS Capital were to purchase certain overseas assets and businesses of the Waterford Wedgwood Group.^[10]. The purchase was completed on March 27, 2009, at which point KPS formed a new company, WWRD Holdings Ltd to manage these brands ^[11]

[edit] Products

Waterford Crystal Volvo Ocean Challenge Trophy

Waterford produces many patterns of lead crystal stemware, including lines such as Adare, Alana, Colleen, Kincora, Lismore, Maeve, Tramore, and many others.

Waterford's chandeliers hang in well-known buildings like Windsor Castle, Westminster Abbey, and the Kennedy Center, and they have made the 2,668 crystals for the famous New Year's Eve Ball that is dropped each year in New York City's Times Square. The ball is a 11,875 pound geodesic orb, 12 foot in diameter and is lit by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDS.^[12][13]

Sporting trophies are also crafted by Waterford, such as the Masters Series crystal shield trophies that are awarded to the winner of each of the nine men's professional tennis Masters Series tournaments, the AFCA National Championship Trophy that is awarded to the US college football team which finishes the season at the top of the Coaches Poll, and a representation of the Ashes urn that is presented to the winners of the Test cricket series between England and Australia.

Also crafted by Waterford are the winning trophies for the French and German Grand Prix in Formula One, and a bat and ball trophy presented at the final game at Yankee Stadium to Derek Jeter.

[edit] Sources

[edit] See also

• Edinburgh Crystal
• Tyrone Crystal

[edit] External links

• Official site
• Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre
• "Raise the Last Glass" PBS online documentary.