The countdown is underway for one of Europe’s most unique cultural events, opening this weekend in Waterford. The 2025 International Festival of Time returns to Waterford from May 23rd to 24th, offering a celebration of innovation, reflection, and the evolving nature of time. As the city welcomes some of the most respected figures in horology and temporal philosophy, this year’s program places special emphasis on a keynote address, an expert panel discussion, and a curated guided tour.
The museum, located in a refurbished Neo-Gothic church in Waterford’s Viking Triangle, showcases over 600 timepieces from around the world, including Ireland, the United Kingdom, Austria, Switzerland, France, Japan, and Russia. Among its notable exhibits is a clock made in 1551 and William Clement’s 1663 timepiece, recognised as the world’s oldest surviving clock with an anchor escapement.
The centrepiece of the festival will be the keynote address delivered by renowned Irish watchmaker John McGonigle, taking place at 1:00 pm on Saturday, May 24th, in the historic Christchurch Cathedral. Titled “How Complications Work”, McGonigle’s talk will offer a deep dive into the intricacies of high-end watch mechanisms and the artistic and mechanical challenges that define the world of haute horlogerie. A live Q&A session will follow the 45-minute address.
Also on Saturday, at 3:00 pm in Christchurch Cathedral, a panel discussion will bring together leaders in contemporary watchmaking. The panel, titled “Horology & Watchmaking”, features Colman Curran, Co-Founder of the Irish Museum of Time; two of the few Irish independent watchmakers, Bryan Leech, Director and Designer at the Irish-based brand Sidereus Watches; and Alison Moriarty, founder of Moriarty Watches Ireland. The discussion will be moderated by Pietro Tomajer, Co-Founder of The Limited Edition, a platform dedicated to independent watchmaking. This session promises insight into the intersection of craftsmanship, design, and the future of independent horology.
Festival attendees will also have the opportunity to explore Waterford through time itself. On Friday, May 23rd at 3:00 pm, curators from Waterford Treasures will lead a guided walking tour of the city’s historic public clocks, starting from the Medieval Museum. This immersive tour provides an engaging look at how timekeeping has long been part of Waterford’s public life.
The Festival of Time will take place across several of Waterford’s cultural landmarks, including the Medieval Museum, the Irish Museum of Time, and Christchurch Cathedral. As the only festival of its kind in Ireland, it also highlights Waterford’s historical link to watchmaking.
Confirmed exhibitors for 2025 include some of the most innovative names in international horology, among them Vianney Halter, Rune Bakkendorf, Rob Nudds, Marco Borraccino, and Sylvain Pinaud, alongside a strong contingent of Irish talent.
Festival hours are from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm on Friday, and until 5:00 pm on Saturday. Tickets and streaming options are available at www.waterfordtreasures.com.
