Visit Waterford.

Waterford (Port Láirge in Irish Gaelic), the capital of the county of the same name, is located in the southwest of Ireland. Boasting a gigantic port, the town has depended on maritime trade since its very beginnings, and has long relied on its world-famous “Wedgwood” crystal works…

History of Waterford

Ireland’s oldest town

Waterford was founded in 914, following the Viking invasions. This makes it the oldest town in Ireland. To ensure its development, the town was built on the south bank of the River Suir, in order to create a harbour to facilitate maritime trade with the rest of the island.

The town developed without major events until 1137, when Waterford’s dynamism attracted the greed of Dermot MacMurrough, King of Leinster. He decided to seize the area, launching 2 successive assaults (the first in 1137, the second in 1170). The first attempt was unsuccessful, but the second proved conclusive and Waterford surrendered. Despite this defeat, the town continued to grow. For a time, Waterford and Dublin vied for the status of capital and royal city.

The era of the Irish Confederate Wars brought a period of turmoil. Dublin took part in the Kilkenny Confederacy, asserting its Catholicism, but was fiercely crushed by Oliver Cromwell after a terribly deadly siege in 1650.
An expanding town, marked by the Civil War

After many years, Waterford tried to expand with new monuments. Gigantic shipyards were built, as well as high-quality crystal works in 1783. From then on, Waterford achieved international renown, becoming England’s official porcelain manufacturer.

In July 1922, the town was caught up in the Irish Civil War (1922/1924), with a number of shoot-outs between pro- and anti-Treaty factions.

Today, Waterford is a pleasant, dynamic and fast-developing city. It offers many renowned tourist attractions.