It emerged late last week that the House of Waterford Crystal Factory and Retail will slow production temporarily to address ‘elevated inventory levels in some of our key markets’.
Factory tours will not be available on Monday’s, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays during February. They will resume as normal in March.
When contacted by The Munster Express, Fiskars Group, who operate House of Waterford, replied with the following statement:
“Fiskars Group will temporarily reduce production at the House of Waterford, Ireland, throughout February 2026. Operations will continue as normal on Thursdays and Fridays and the store will be open all week, as per normal opening hours. This short‑term measure is being taken to address elevated inventory levels in some of our key markets Americas, Australia, UK and Ireland. A total of approximately 65 employees will be affected.
“During the temporary reduction of production at the House of Waterford, factory tours will not be available on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays throughout February. However, tours will continue as usual on Thursdays and Fridays during this period. Starting in March, the factory tours will resume their regular schedule, 7 days per week.
“House of Waterford is a site of key importance to Fiskars Group and Waterford. It serves as a centre for our high‑end crystal production, where mouth‑blown, hand‑cut, sculpted, and engraved pieces are crafted by skilled artisans. These techniques, refined over generations, remain at the heart of Waterford’s identity. This living tradition reflects our commitment to craftsmanship and the House of Waterford’s role in our heritage and operations.
“We will keep our employees, partners and local stakeholders informed throughout this period.”
They did not clarify, when asked, how the employees will be affected or if these employees were all based in Waterford?
AARON KENT
Funded by The Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
