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Wake Museum Tour: Explore Irish Traditions
4.9
125 Ratings
Waterford
Ireland’s inaugural Wake Museum offers an insightful journey through the customs and beliefs surrounding life and death, spanning from early Christian eras to the 20th century.
Ireland’s inaugural Wake Museum offers an insightful journey through the customs and beliefs surrounding life and death, spanning from early Christian eras to the 20th century.
Duration:
45 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
-
Irish Wake Museum - Located in a former 15th-century Almshouse, the Irish Wake Museum provides a unique chance to delve into a significant aspect of Irish culture, guided by an expert on this comprehensive tour.
Within this evocative building, linked to life and death in Waterford over six centuries, visitors embark on an intriguing journey through…
- Irish Wake Museum - Located in a former 15th-century Almshouse, the Irish Wake Museum provides a unique chance to delve into a significant aspect of Irish culture, guided by an expert on this comprehensive tour.
Within this evocative building, linked to life and death in Waterford over six centuries, visitors embark on an intriguing journey through history. In this cozy setting, the themes of death and funeral traditions are examined to truly comprehend the origins of a wake’s distinctive customs.
What's Included
- Guided Tour
- Professional Guide
- Guided Tour
- Professional Guide
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Gratuities
Additional Information
- Please be aware this tour will include mention of death, injury and illness, as well as realistic depictions of the recently deceased. We greatly appreciate that the subject matter of this museum may be upsetting for some and consideration should be taken to ensure that this is the correct experience for you and your companions.
- We advise that at a minimum it is not suitable for children under the age of 8 years.
- Please be aware this tour will include mention of death, injury and illness, as well as realistic depictions of the recently deceased. We greatly appreciate that the subject matter of this museum may be upsetting for some and consideration should be taken to ensure that this is the correct experience for you and your companions.
- We advise that at a minimum it is not suitable for children under the age of 8 years.
Location
Waterford Treasures: Irish Wake Museum
Cathedral Square
The Irish Wake Museum can be found in Cathedral Square, in the dead centre of the Viking Triangle.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(125 Ratings)
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Christinagj7400dp
Apr 16, 2026
Great tour - Lots of information about the building, the city, and funeral customs. Great tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Una
Apr 12, 2026
100% Reconnended - A most interesting and engaging tour.
Lots of amazing artefacts too
Review provided by Tripadvisor
H2863nydavidm
Apr 7, 2026
Great tour - Really thorough and in depth tour that was both factual and entertaining. Very thought provoking and was well taken care of by Deidre and Alex - great tour and experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stephaniean8729ct
Mar 15, 2026
Very interesting, disturbing and first-rate guide - Excellent tour. I could say Liam is one of the best guides I've ever had in Ireland. 100% recommended and very interesting.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Charlieat4982ur
Mar 1, 2026
Fantastic Quick Tour - The Wake Museum is a fantastic tour, 45 minutes exactly. We had Deirdre as our tour guide and she was friendly, intelligent, and humourous when appropriate. The subject matter is sensitive but the tour walked a nice line between respectful and fun, no bashing of old customs for the lack of knowledge they had. Well worth the ten euro or so spent per person. Would recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dylas2026
Feb 20, 2026
Tour - An amazing experience with an amazing guide
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daniellebd4393hy
Feb 8, 2026
Awakening experience - Deirdre our tour guide was so knowledgeable. We learned some very fascinating things. While I’m not a huge fan of a guided tour, it was a great experience with so much to learn and see. Lovely touch at the end as well for people to remember their dead loved ones.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
458mahdim
Jan 31, 2026
Incredibly interesting, engaging and beautiful - This was one of the most fascinating and engaging tours I've ever been on. We had Debbie as our guide and she was so incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. She answerd all our questions and treated us with lovely anecdotes.
Even being Irish myself, there was so much I didn't know about the customs and superstitions around death.
The building is amazing, the story behind it more so and I am so so glad we decided to go there.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brendalv967jz
Jan 28, 2026
Excellent tour presented by a very knowledgeable tour guide - This was an Excellent tour delivered by a very knowledgeable guide. We completed the tour on 28/01/26 at 11:45. It was so interesting. The tour guide had such wonderful knowledge of the area, the history, and the customs.
And she sang the “Our Father” at the end of the tour. Fabulous- it would make the hairs stand at the back of your neck.
I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Waterford
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Navigator05978756162
Jan 3, 2026
Wonderful experience - Great experience. Took the train from Kilkenny just to visit and well worth it. Tobie the guide was perfect. The exhibits really helped to understand the history.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
