Almost 600 Clocks…And Enough to Drive You Cuckoo
World’s Largest Exhibition of Cuckoo Clocks Prepares to Open at Waterford’s Irish Museum of Time
This autumn, as the clocks fall back this Sunday, October 26th, Waterford City will mark a new chapter in horological history as final preparations are made ahead of the opening of the world’s largest collection of cuckoo clocks. Soon to be unveiled in a specially created wing of the Irish Museum of Time, the exhibition is receiving its final touches, adding another landmark to Ireland’s only dedicated horological museum at Waterford Treasures.
The new wing, housed in a restored 19th-century building, is devoted to the celebrated craftsmanship of Germany’s Black Forest, where artistry and engineering combined to create the cuckoo clock, one of the world’s most recognisable and enchanting timepieces. The collection was acquired thanks to the generosity of the museum benefactor David Boles, whose vision has secured Waterford’s reputation as a centre for the appreciation of timekeeping. In 2024, the collection was acquired from Maz and Roman Piekarski, who were closing their cuckoo clock museum in Knutsford, near Manchester, having collected cuckoo cl
The Irish Museum of Time in Waterford is preparing to open the world’s largest exhibition of cuckoo clocks in a new wing of a restored 19th-century building.
The collection, acquired from Maz and Roman Piekarski’s 50-year assembly in Knutsford near Manchester, features over 400 pieces funded by benefactor David Boles. Display highlights include 19th-century one-, two- and eight-day clocks, wall and table variants, automaton models, quarter-striking pieces, oversized showpieces and miniatures with woodland and architectural carvings.
Cuckoo clock making originated in Germany’s Black Forest in the 18th century, where farming families crafted intricate designs during winters incorporating the cuckoo bird’s call.
The exhibition includes a restored century-old fairground organ by Belgian conservators Alberic Godderis and Tim Thyssen, alongside clock cases treated by Sven Habermann.
David Boles shared: “For centuries, the dramatic landscapes of the Black Forest have inspired storytellers, writers, artists, musicians, and master clockmakers alike. Its flora and fauna, and sounds, not only captured imaginations but also shaped one of the most iconic forms of timekeeping in the world. This exhibition, the largest display of Black Forest cuckoo clocks ever assembled, offers a rare opportunity to explore how this enchanting region gave rise to timepieces that are both mechanical marvels and timeless works of art.”
Eamonn McEneaney shared: “The Irish Museum of Time is proud to honour the legendary mastery of Black Forest cuckoo clock makers. This new wing is unlike anything seen in Ireland before. The collection is not only a celebration of German artistry and craftsmanship, but also a joyful and imaginative addition to Waterford’s cultural offering.”
Colman Curran shared: “We are enormously grateful to David Boles, whose generosity and passion have made this possible. Visitors will be astonished by the scale, variety, and charm of what awaits them. His vision and dedication ensure that our shared horological heritage will be preserved and appreciated for generations to come.”
