Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks Exhibition Opens in Ireland

0:00From across Europe, powered by AI, this is Europe News Today, I'm Kory with the story. The world's largest exhibition of Kuku Klox opens today at the Irish Museum of Time in Waterford. It features over 400 timepieces, all celebrating the craftsmanship from Germany's Black Forest, where these clocks first appeared in the 18th century. Farming families in the region turned clockmaking into a winter hobby, carving intricate designs and adding the signature Kuku Ko. The collection comes from a private museum near Manchester that's closing after 50 years and local collector David Bowles bought them all. Bowles, who's been collecting clocks for over 60 years, funded a new wing at the museum and worked with co-founder Coleman Kern and project manager, Eman McAnneany, for the past two and a half years to bring it to life. Visitors can see everything from eight day wall and table clocks that need winding every seven days, to miniatures and giant showpieces.

1:01Bowles believes the Kuku's call makes these clocks irresistible, drawing people in for much longer than they plan. The timing couldn't be better, with summertime starting this weekend and museum staff adjusting hundreds of clocks forward by an hour. It's a perfect chance to step into Black Forest Magic right here in Ireland.