Poor Children's Outing

Big Day Out

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 known as the 'Poor Children's Outing'. In Waterford at this time a lot of factories had closed down and there was a lot of poverty and unemployment in the city. Children from poor families would never visit Tramore.

The children going on the outing arrived outside the Courthouse grounds at half past eight - often there would be up to 2, 000 children. The children were lined up in groups and each was given a piece of cardboard with his or her name and address on it and this was attached with a safety pin.

Tramore Beach, c.1900

Groups of unidentified people enjoying the beach at Tramore with the wheeled bathing boxes on the slipway leading from the town to the beach.

© Waterford County Museum

Tramore Beach, c.1900
© Waterford County Museum

Tramore Beach, c.1900

Groups of unidentified people enjoying the beach at Tramore with the wheeled bathing boxes on the slipway leading from the town to the beach.

© Waterford County Museum

Enlarge image

Promptly at half past ten the mayor in his robes, the councillors and the Barrack Street Band arrived. The children moved in a procession up Catherine Street, along the Mall with the Barrack Street Band in front, followed by Mayor and councillors until they reached the special train waiting in Manor Street Station.

All the children taken to the seaside at Tramore left with happy memories. During the outing in 1930, 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 stones of sugar and 40 gallons of milk.

Poor Children's Outing