Poor Children's Outing

From 1928 to 1944 the local trades council and the employers of Waterford organised a yearly outing for deprived children from Waterford to Tramore by rail that became know as the 'Poor Children's Outing'.

Strand Street, Tramore

Strand Street, Tramore - a postcard

© Waterford City Library (purchased June 1998 from Tim Healy)

Strand Street, Tramore
© Waterford City Library (purchased June 1998 from Tim Healy)

Strand Street, Tramore

Strand Street, Tramore - a postcard

© Waterford City Library (purchased June 1998 from Tim Healy)

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The Waterford News of 5th September 1930 called it the "Children's Fete of Joy', recording how 1, 700 children assembled in the grounds of the Courthouse where each child had their name and address, written on a bit of card board and attached with a safety pin.

The children moved in a procession up Catherine Street, along the Mall with the Barrack Street Band in front, headed up with the Mayor (Ald. W. Jones) and the Corporation in Robes of Office until they reached the special train waiting in Manor Street Station.

The newspaper added; "all the children taken to Tramore left the seaside resort last evening with the happiest of memories of one of the most pleasurable days they have yet experienced in their young lives". During the outing a huge amounts of food were consumed including; 420lbs of Ham, 282 long pans, 1, 700 rock buns, 40 tins of sweets, 3, 300 apples, seven stone of sugar and 40 gallons of milk.

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