Discover Waterford

Waterford (Port Láirge in Irish Gaelic), is the capital of the county of the same name, and is located in the southwest of Ireland. Waterford, with its gigantic port, has lived from its maritime trade since the very origin of the city, and has long lived from its world-famous “Wedgwood” crystal glassworks…

History of Waterford

Waterford is the oldest city in Ireland.

Waterford was founded in 914, following the Viking Invasions. This date makes it the oldest city in Ireland. To ensure its development, Waterford was built on the south bank of the River Suir to provide a port to facilitate maritime trade with the rest of the island.

The town developed without major events until 1137, when Waterford’s dynamism attracted the covetousness of the King of Leinster Dermot MacMurrough. He decided to seize the town, launching 2 successive assaults (the first in 1137, the second in 1170). The first attempt was a failure, but the second attempt was successful: Waterford surrendered. This defeat does not prevent Waterford from developing further. So much so that Waterford and Dublin are competing for capital and royal city status for some time.

The time of the Irish Confederate Wars was a troubled time for Waterford. It participates in the confederation of Kilkenny, asserts its Catholicism but is ferociously crushed by Oliver Cromwell after a terrible murderous siege in 1650.

An Expanding City, Marked by the Civil War

After many years of recovering from this failure, Waterford is trying to expand through new monuments. Gigantic shipyards were also built there, as well as high quality crystal works in 1783. From then on Waterford achieved international fame and became the official porcelain manufacturer of England.

In July 1922, Waterford did not escape the Irish Civil War (1922/1924), where a few shootings occurred in the city, opposing the pro-treaty and anti-treaty sides.

The economic crisis of 2008 hit Waterford hard. So much so that the Wedgwood crystal factory ended up going bankrupt in January 2009. This news greatly weakened the economic influence of the city on Ireland and internationally… As a reminder, this crystal factory was the official porcelain manufacturer of the Royal Family of the United Kingdom.

Waterford (Port Láirge in Irish Gaelic), is the capital of the county of the same name, and is located in the southwest of Ireland. Waterford, with its gigantic port, has lived from its maritime trade since the very origin of the city, and has long lived from its world-famous “Wedgwood” crystal glassworks…

History of Waterford

Waterford is the oldest city in Ireland.

Waterford was founded in 914, following the Viking Invasions. This date makes it the oldest city in Ireland. To ensure its development, Waterford was built on the south bank of the River Suir to provide a port to facilitate maritime trade with the rest of the island.

The town developed without major events until 1137, when Waterford’s dynamism attracted the covetousness of the King of Leinster Dermot MacMurrough. He decided to seize the town, launching 2 successive assaults (the first in 1137, the second in 1170). The first attempt was a failure, but the second attempt was successful: Waterford surrendered. This defeat does not prevent Waterford from developing further. So much so that Waterford and Dublin are competing for capital and royal city status for some time.

The time of the Irish Confederate Wars was a troubled time for Waterford. It participates in the confederation of Kilkenny, asserts its Catholicism but is ferociously crushed by Oliver Cromwell after a terrible murderous siege in 1650.

An Expanding City, Marked by the Civil War

After many years of recovering from this failure, Waterford is trying to expand through new monuments. Gigantic shipyards were also built there, as well as high quality crystal works in 1783. From then on Waterford achieved international fame and became the official porcelain manufacturer of England.

In July 1922, Waterford did not escape the Irish Civil War (1922/1924), where a few shootings occurred in the city, opposing the pro-treaty and anti-treaty sides.

The economic crisis of 2008 hit Waterford hard. So much so that the Wedgwood crystal factory ended up going bankrupt in January 2009. This news greatly weakened the economic influence of the city on Ireland and internationally… As a reminder, this crystal factory was the official porcelain manufacturer of the Royal Family of the United Kingdom.