Towns Include


Waterford City

Dungarven

Tramore

Portlaw

Lismore

Ardmore

 

 
County Waterford

The Waterford ShieldWATERFORD is a modern European port wrapped around an ancient Irish city. It's an important commercial centre and this, coupled with a large student population, makes it a fairly lively place. Alongside the city's modernity, though, there's plenty that's traditional, most obviously the place of the pub as a focal point of social activity, and the persistence of traditional music.

The layout of the city, with its long quays and adjacent narrow lanes, dates back to its origin as a Viking settlement in the mid-ninth century. Waterford flourished as a European port into the eighteenth century - the period when the famous Waterford crystal was first produced - and there's plenty of architectural evidence of this prosperity.

Reginald's Tower is Waterford's most historic building. A large, cylindrical, late-twelfth-century tower in the quays area of the city, it houses the city's museum, which has an impressive collection of royal charters showing the central role of Waterford's allegiance to the English Crown from the arrival of Henry II in 1171 onwards. 

Wander up Bailey's New St just behind the tower and you'll immediately come to Waterford's other important medieval building, the ruined French Church, or Greyfriars. Founded by Franciscans in 1240, it was used as a place of worship by French Huguenot refugees from 1693 to 1815. Nearby is the City Heritage Centre, a showcase for recently excavated Viking and Norman artifacts of outstanding quality and design.

Further up Bailey's New St, you enter Waterford's next significant period of church-building at Christ Church Cathedral, which currently hosts a sound and light presentation of the city's history. Built in the 1770s by John Roberts, who did much work in Waterford for both Catholics and Protestants, it's a nicely proportioned building, with some fine monuments inside - look out for the tomb of James Rice (1482), an effigy of a corpse in an advanced state of decay.

By far the finest eighteenth-century architectural detail in the city, though, is the beautiful oval staircase inside the Chamber of Commerce in George St, yet again by John Roberts. Georgian housing continues down O'Connell St, where the Garter Lane Arts Centre has a gallery, a theatre and a good events noticeboard. 

County Waterford is world famous as the home of Waterford Crystal. And there is so much more that makes Waterford a wonderful place to spend your holidays. The pace of life is relaxed, and the variety of activities delicious. From golf to angling and walking, all tastes are catered for.

Nestling on the South East coast of Ireland, Waterford is within one or two hours of Shannon, Dublin, and Cork airports, and Rosslare and Ringaskiddy Ferries.

 

 

Main Tourist Attractions Include :

Curraghmore House
Located at Portlaw, Curraghmore House is owned by the Marquis of Waterford and has been home to his ancestors since 1170. The interior has exceptionally fine plasterwork. The House is open by prior appointment year round, Monday to Friday. The guided tours are usually conducted personally by Lord Waterford. The superbly landscaped gardens beside Curraghmore House, incorporate a shell house, the interior of which was designed by Catherine,

Lismore Heritage Centre
This former courthouse has now become the Lismore Heritage Centre, with Lismore's Celtic origins on view in the historical display room. The story of Lismore dates from 636 and is told in an award-winning presentation narrated by Niall Toibin.

Waterford Treasures at the Granary
Located at Merchants Quay, Waterford City. Sail the seas on a Viking ship, attend the wedding of Strongbow and Aoife, and see the finest works of Waterford Glass. Waterford Treasures at the Granary is both a treasury and a treasure trail that takes you through one thousand years of Ireland's oldest city.

Passage East
A small, friendly fishing village based around two open squares. The fishing village is built beneath a high escarpment with small squares, streets and three main quays: Boathouse Quay, Haketts Quay and Middle Quay. From here you can hop on the ferry that crosses the River Suir to the Wexford side of Ballyhack.
The village hosts a Mussel Festival every September.

Walls of Waterford
In terms of its medieval city walls, Waterford is richer than any other Irish City. 
The fortifications date from the Viking and Anglo Norman Period and there are six towers and long stretches of wall still standing.

 

Heritage Sites

Reginalds Tower
Located at The Quay, Waterford City, Reginalds Tower dates from the late twelfth century and is the oldest urban civic building in the country. It has recently been completely restored to its medieval appearance. The heritage museum houses two fascinating collections. On the ground floor, artefacts from the Viking and Medieval periods are on display. The mezzanine floor houses one of Ireland's great collections of decorated charters and civic regalia.

 

Interesting Tourist Shops

Waterford Crystal Shop
Located on the Cork Road out of Waterford City, Waterford Crystal has traditionally extended a warm welcome to visitors from around the world. Tours are given of the production areas where the famous crystal is actually made. Three's also an audio visual presentation, tracing the ancient craft of glassmaking to the present day. 

 


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