Waterford Crystal anew

A brand-new House of Waterford Crystal (The Mall, Waterford City, Ireland; phone + 353 [0] 51 317000, fax 351937), with a visitor center and retail store, offers tours on which visitors can observe factory workers blowing glass and engraving crystal items.

The flagship factory, in Waterford City’s Kilbarry area, was shut down in early 2009. Its 1,000 workers were fired along with about 500 at an ancillary factory. The new factory employs about 100.

A tour costs €10 ($13) adult or €8 senior. 9 a.m.-4:15 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 10:30 a.m.-4:15 p.m. Sun., June to September.