For the first time in over a quarter of a century apprentice glass blowers, cutters and engravers are being hired by Waterford Crystal.

Ten apprentices - nine men and one woman - are being hired at the House of Crystal on the Mall in the city.

The last time such apprentices were taken on was 1986.

Waterford Crystal, as it was then, closed its doors in 2009 with the loss of more than 600 jobs.

The brand was purchased by an American company, a new facility was built in the city centre and glass is now being made in Waterford City and abroad, with 180 people employed locally.

As part of the development, Waterford Crystal today welcomed ten new craft trainees to the factory in Waterford where they commence a training programme in the skills of glass blowing, cutting, sculpting and engraving.

This programme will be based at the company’s manufacturing facility, The House of Waterford Crystal, at the Mall in Waterford.

The training, which initially lasts nine months, is being done with help from Waterford Wexford Training Services (WWTS).

At the end of the first year, the new trainees must complete their City & Guilds Crystal Manufacturing exams, and successful trainees will then progress to year two of a five-year programme to become master blowers, cutters, sculptors or engravers.

The trainees range in age from their late teens to their early 30s.

Watch a report on the new jobs here.