An Introduction to Ireland’s Oldest City
Reputed to be Ireland’s oldest city – with a Christian parish that predates even St Patrick – Waterford is certainly richly decked in Viking tales, architecture, finery and folklore.
Even its name, from the Norse meaning “ram fjord”, holds fast to the city’ pedigree. Make sure to grab a delicious blaa from the Granary Café to fuel your exploration.
Waterford Treasures Museums offers no less than 7 visitor attractions in the rejuvenated historic city centre, the Viking Triangle. Waterford’s Viking heritage is displayed in the imposing Reginald’s Tower – Ireland’s oldest urban monument soaring above the waterfront, in continuous use for over 800 years. The story of Reginald, King of Waterford and York, features in the spectacular ‘King of the Vikings’ Virtual Reality Adventure.
The award-winning Medieval Museum, Tripadvisor Travellers Choice 2023, is built over two atmospheric 13th-century and 15th-century buildings and showcases Waterford’s rich medieval treasures including the magnificent 15th-century cloth-of-gold church vestments. Harking back to a rancorous dispute between Waterford and rival port New Ross in 1372 is the illustrated Great Charter Roll, created to prove Waterford’s supremacy to the King, one of Ireland’s great national treasures and viewed by both Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III.
The Bishop’s Palace displays the 18th-century treasures of Waterford and Ireland and the story of the Glassworks set up in 1783, the top floor continues the story through the 19th and 20th centuries when the Irish state was set up.
The Irish Museum of Time displays the finest Irish clocks and watches anywhere in the world and is the only museum dedicated to horology on the entire island of Ireland. Also open since 2021 is the Irish Silver Museum which tells the story of Ireland through the superb Irish craft of gold and silver-smithing and showcases the explosion of fine silver for ‘making the Grand Figure’ in Ireland from the 1700s. The newly-opened Irish Wake Museum explores the traditions and superstitions associated with death in Ireland since prehistory in a beautifully 15th-century almshouse.
The discounted Freedom of Waterford ticket allows the visitor to enjoy four museums and Christ Church Cathedral plus a walking tour of the Viking Triangle with an expert guide, taking in 1,000 years of history in 1,000 paces!
Founded in 914 AD by Vikings from Norway, Waterford City is over 1100 years old making it Ireland’s oldest City. In 914,the great Viking adventurer and pirate, Regnall, a grandson of Ivor the Boneless, established a base here and built a Longphort or ships haven, which would in time become a modern city. In 918, Regnall took a fleet of ships and left Waterford sailing for York and he became the first Norse ruler of Ruler of that City and held the title ‘King of Waterford and York’. The name Waterford is derived from its Viking name Vadrarjfordr which has two possible meanings; ‘haven from the windswept sea’ or ‘fjord’ of the rams’. The City was captured by the Anglo Normans in 1170 and the Vikings were expelled bringing a dramatic change. Within a few years of being captured, Waterford was escalated to the status of Royal City which owed allegiance to the Anglo Norman King of England, Henry II.
Today, Waterford is a vibrant and picturesque city that has managed to carefully maintain its important heritage, while also having a lively and modern shopping area, filled with cafes, award winning restaurants and an excellent mix of traditional, local and contemporary pubs. The city is also home to two theatres, the Theatre Royal and Garter Lane Arts Centre, as well as several art galleries, craft studios and boutique shops. In 2015, Waterford City was awarded a ‘Purple Flag’ – similar to the Blue Flag for beaches – the Purple Flag is granted to urban areas which reach excellence in their evening and night time economies. Waterford City is the first urban location in the South East to achieve the Purple Flag standard.
Lonely Planet recommends a visit to Waterford City, saying ‘Waterford is Ireland’s oldest city and celebrated its 1100th anniversary in 2014. A busy port, it lies on the tidal reach of the River Suir, 16km from the coast. Some parts of the city still feel almost medieval, with narrow alleyways leading off larger streets; an ongoing revitalisation campaign is polishing up one block after another. New and existing museums tell the story of Ireland’s Middle Ages better than any other city in the country’.
Waterford is the capital city of the South East region and is within easy reach of Kilkenny, New Ross, Wexford, Tipperary and Cork.
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