Waterford (Port Lairge, "Lairge's Landing Place"), county town of Waterford county, lies near the southeastern tip of Ireland on the River Suir, some 20mi/30km above its mouth. The river at this point is broad and deep, and has thus enabled the town to develop into a seaport of considerable importance.
The town has a variety of industries, but
is particularly known for its glass. Waterford glass was famous in the early 19th C., and since its revival in 1947 again enjoys an international reputation.
In 853 the Danes established a settlement here which they called Vadrefjord. In 1170 Strongbow took the town, and it became second in importance only to Dublin among Anglo-Norman strongholds. Waterford remained loyal to England well into the 19th C. and it was in recognition of this loyalty that in 1487 Henry VII granted the town the motto "Urbs intacta manet Waterfordia" because of its support for him in opposing rival claimants to the throne. In 1649 Cromwell was forced to abandon the siege of Waterford, but it was taken by his forces in the following year. Forty years later, after first supporting James II, it surrendered to William III.
There are still many houses in the town dating from about 1800, when the glass industry was in its heyday. Particularly in the street called "The Mall" there are a number of Georgian houses and the town has a full complement of hotels, restaurants and pubs.
From the bridge over the Suir the street known as the Quay - successively called Merchants' Quay, Meagher's Quay and Parade Quay - runs along the south bank of the river for 0.75mi/1.2km. Most of the principal sights of Waterford can be seen by going down various streets and lanes opening southwards off the Quay.
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