Waterford has, once again, received the coveted Purple Flag accreditation, which represents the gold standard of the management of evening and night-time economies.
This prestigious award underpins Waterford's great blend of entertainment, dining, and culture, all the while ensuring the safety and well-being of residents, and visitors in the evening and night-time economy, between the hours of 5pm and 5am.
In recognition of Waterford’s commitment to creating a dynamic, secure, and vibrant evening and night-time economy, the Purple Flag accreditation process is similar to the Green Flag Award for parks and Blue Flag for beaches.
Key successes noted in Waterford's submission included the introduction of community safety wardens, increasing feelings of safety and support within the evening and night-time economy (ENTE), the positive approach to engagement with residents regarding noise levels, and being awarded the prestigious European City of Christmas 2024 title.
Jim ‘Flash’ Gordan, Proprietor of Revolution and Chair of the Purple Flag Committee said, “It is great that Waterford has once again been recognised as a vibrant and safe place, offering an eclectic mix of dining, entertainment, culture and arts.
"The importance and value of the nighttime economy cannot be underestimated. Being recognised as a centre that combines entertainment, ambience, culture and choice, in a safe and inviting setting is a testament to the efforts of our collaborative partners, local business groups, community groups and the residents themselves."
Part of the Purple Flag Waterford ethos is working with student bodies to reinforcing the message that we are all responsible for each other safety.
One such initiative was the recent attendance at Freshers 2024 Orientation in SETU Waterford, Cork Road and College Street campuses, to raise awareness for Purple Flag Waterford and promote an entertaining, diverse, safe and enjoyable night out.
Julie Walsh, Purple Flag Administrator with Waterford City and County Council added, “We are delighted that Waterford has been successfully reaccredited the Purple Flag award for 2024.
"The successful reaccreditation is a result of the cumulative efforts of local businesses and stakeholders who work closely with Waterford City and County Council and An Garda Síochána to promote Waterford. We are looking forward to promoting Purple Flag and the impact it has on the ENTE in Waterford, in order to further develop a vibrant, safe evening and night-time environment for our residents and visitors to enjoy, experience and explore."
An ongoing initiative to promote a safe night-time economy is the Ask for Angela campaign, which promotes safety and support in public spaces, especially for students participating in programmes in SETU and socialising at night in the city.
There are one hundred Purple Flag destinations around the globe across the UK, Ireland, Sweden, New Zealand, and Australia. This includes world renowned tourist destinations to small market towns.
