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County Waterford
top photo: Waterford Coast
It really does have some of the most varied and beautiful scenery in Ireland , as well as seaside resorts, historic sites and plenty of activities to keep any visitor busy. Waterford City is the county’s largest town and its administrative capital is Dungarvan. Other main towns are Tramore and Lismore.
| Waterford City |
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Waterford prides itself on being the oldest tourist destination in Ireland , first visited by the Vikings in 852. They founded the city, the oldest in the country, and it still has an historic atmosphere. Its name comes from the Norse “Vethrafjorthr,” meaning “weather haven,” due to its sheltered position on the River Suir at the mouth of the harbor that bears its name. It’s still an important port, and a lovely place to visit, friendly in scale. Traces of its medieval city walls stand alongside elegant 18th-century buildings, with cobbled back streets, and its waterfront is most attractive.
Visit Reginald’s Tower, which has stood on its Waterford Quay site for more than 1,000 years. Built for defense, it also has been used as a mint, prison and military store.
As you walk around the city, look out for the elegant Chamber of Commerce building, the City Hall and the Bishop’s Palace. The Granville Hotel on the Quay was the home of the 18th-century patriot, Thomas Francis Meagher, before passing into the hands of Carlo Bianconi, who ran the first national coach network in the 19th century.
You can learn about the city’s history at Waterford Treasures at the Granary on the Quay, which has interactive displays and plenty of artifacts on display.
The two cathedrals – the Church of Ireland Christ Church and the Catholic Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity – were both designed by locally born architect John Roberts (1714-1796), whose sons Thomas and Sautell were both painters.
For a really memorable experience, take a trip on The Galley Cruising Restaurant from the Quay, between April and November. You gently cruise along the rivers Barrow, Nore and Suir, informed about what you’re passing, and you are served delicious food. |
| Waterford Crystal Factory |
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Waterford is perhaps most well known as the home of the world-famous Waterford Crystal Factory. The world-famous handcrafted, cut glass product is a sophisticated shopping venue for high fashion and craft & design centers. It high standards have continued to allow this brand of crystal to be sought after by people around the world.
The Waterford Crystal factory is one of the key employment providers in the city and a long-running, successful business. Originally established in 1783 by George and William Penrose, Waterford Crystal is now a household name. The factory closed in 1851, due to heavy excise duties, but was reopened in 1947. The current factory dates from 1971 and employs 1,600 people. The factory has traditionally extended a warm welcome to visitors from around the world.
At Waterford Crystal Visitor Center , tourists can meet craftspeople at work, see a re-creation of the earliest glasshouse, enjoy the audio-visual which explains the evolution of glass making and marvel at the world's largest display of Waterford Crystal in magnificent surroundings.
It is located on the Cork Road , just west of Waterford city. |
| Dungarvan |
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Dungarvan is the administrative capital of the county and is a busy market town with a lovely setting in a broad bay. It’s best approached from the south – on the N25 from Cork – so you can take in the magnificent panorama, but take care driving as the road is windy as you descend into the town.
Dungarvan Castle , in the care of the State Heritage Service, has been undergoing conservation and access may be restricted. Ask locally.
The Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) area of Ring is well-signposted off the N25 just south of Dungarvan. Clonea, four miles (6.4 km) east of Dungarvan, has an EU Blue Flag beach two miles (3.2 km) long, and is ideal for scenic walks. It’s also the starting point for touring routes – the Gaeltacht and Gaetacht Drive , the Copper Coast Drive and the Comeragh Mountains and Nire Valley Drive . |
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Five miles or less to the east of Youghal Harbour , on the coast, a short, rocky and rather elevated promontory juts into the ocean. Maps call it Ram Head, but the real name is Ceann-a-Rama and popularly it is often styled Ardmore Head. Ardmore was where the first Christian settlement was founded in Ireland in 316 by St. Declan, before St. Patrick had arrived. It’s one of the most attractive villages in the country, and a personal favorite, with another EU Blue Flag beach, and wonderful views out over the sea, especially from the Round Tower and Cathedral.
At Ardmore , there’s a lovely cliff walk and the long-distance walking route, St. Declan’s Way, starts here, taking you to Cashel in Co. Tipperary (58 miles/94 km). It’s also on the signposted Gaeltacht and Galltacht Scenic Drive . |
| Blackwater Valley Drive |
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The Blackwater Valley Drive takes you from the coast near Youghal inland through the river valley to Lismore. This is one of our favourite areas in the country for a drive. The winding road is skirted by wooded hills and lush greenery. It’s always quiet. Along the way there are some delightful villages. Among them is Villierstown, built in the 18th century by John Villiers, 1st Earl of Grandison, for workers in his linen weaving industry, which has beautiful stone-cut houses.
Lismore is a Heritage Town , in a marvelous setting at the foot of the Knockmealdown Mountains . There’s plenty to see, including the 17th-century St. Carthage’s Church of Ireland Cathedral , and the 19th-century St. Carthage’s Catholic Church with its Celtic Revival stained glass windows. There’s also a Heritage Centre. The Carnegie Library in the town is one of many in the country funded by Andrew Carnegie, who made his fortune in the US .
In the local cemetery there’s a mass grave, a sad reminder of the Great Famine, and nearby what was the workhouse where the starving poor sought refuge. |
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Lismore Castle , originally built in 1185, was acquired by Sir Walter Raleigh (who brought the potato to the island) and then sold to Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork, in 1602. It now belongs to the Duke of Devonshire, whose family name is Cavendish, and is not open to the public, but you can visit its magnificent gardens. Fred Astaire’s sister married one of the Cavendishs so he often visited, and he’d be seen relaxing in Madden’s Bar in the town. The walled and woodland gardens are on two levels; one a rare example of an Elizabethan layout. You can rent Lismore Castle , complete with butler and staff, for week-long stays in summer, and for shorter periods at other times of the year. There are 12 bedrooms, so it can sleep up to 23.
Near Lismore is a Gothic gateway called Ballysaggartmore Towers . It was part of one Arthur Kiely’s grand plan for a house bigger than that of his brother and cost so much that the house itself was never built. Cappoquin and Ballyduff are other attractive towns in the Blackwater Valley .
On the Comeragh Mountains and Nire Valley Drive you can see standing stones, fulachta fiadh (cooking pits) and cairns around Kilbrien and Ogham stones near Knockboy. Mothel Abbey, built in the 13th century, is near Rathgormack. |
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