Waterford, Ireland Attractions
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.
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Reginald's Tower
Reginald's Tower is believed to date to the start of the 11th C, and been built as a defense against the Vikings. The City Museum is located within the tower.
Waterford Court House
A short distance from Waterford's Christ Church Cathedral, off the Mall to the left, we come to the dignified Court House of 1849, in grounds which are linked to the wooded People's Park to the south by a footbridge over the little John's River.
Blackfriars Priory
From the bridge over the Suir in Waterford is the street known as Merchants' Quay. Parallel to Merchants' Quay is O'Connell Street. At the corner of this street and Bridge Street can be seen a church tower, all that remains of an old Dominican house, Blackfriars Priory (1226-1541).
Christ Church Cathedral
Waterford's principal Protestant church, Christ Church Cathedral, stands beyond the City Hall and the Theatre Royal, south of Reginald's Tower in The Mall. Christ Church Cathedral (by Roberts, 1779) has a spacious interior and two fine tombs, the Rice monument (1469) and the Fitzgerald monument, of Carrara marble. On the south side of the Cathedral is the Bishop's Palace (18th C, restored 1975).
Cromwell's Rock
Cromwell's Rock stands opposite the People's Park on the north side of the Suir, in the Ferrybank district of Waterford. It is from Cromwell's Rock that Cromwell is said to have watched the siege of the town (fine view).
French Church
Going down Waterford's Parade Quay from the Holy Trinity Cathedral, we see on the right the French Church (National Monument), with a 15th C. nave, chancel and tower, all that is left of a monastery founded in 1240. From the 17th to the 19th C. the nave was used as a hospice for paupers, while the choir became a place of worship for Huguenot refugees and the Lady Chapel a place of burial for the leading families of the town.
Garter Lane Art Centre
From the bridge over the Suir in Waterford is the street known as Merchants' Quay. Parallel to Merchants' Quay is O'Connell Street. A short distance along O'Connell Street can be found the Garter Lane Arts Centre, where Irish art is displayed.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Holy Trinity Cathedral
In a lane off Waterford's Broad Street, near the Chamber of Commerce in Great George Street, we reach St Patrick's Church. Across from St Patrick's, between Parade Quay and High Street, stands Holy Trinity Cathedral, by John Roberts (1793), with a late 19th C. facade.
Joan Clancy Gallery
Joan Clancy Gallery is a family-run business featuring emerging stars of the Irish art world as well as other influential painters.
St Patrick's Church
In a lane off Waterford's Broad Street, near the Chamber of Commerce in Great George Street, we reach St Patrick's Church (mid-18th C.) with a charming gallery.
Waterford City Hall
South of Reginald's Tower in The Mall, which lies to the far end of Waterford's Parade Quay, is the City Hall (by John Roberts, 1782), which has been preserved in its original state, and the Theatre Royal, also by Roberts (1788).
Waterford Glass Factory (Waterford Crystal Factory)
1.5mi/2.5km from the Waterford city center on the Cork road (N25), the continuation of the Mall, is the Waterford Glass Factory, famous for its hand cut crystal. On a conducted tour through the works visitors can see the crystal being blown and polished by hand. In the Crystal Gallery adjoining the factory crystal articles can be purchased.
Waterford Glass Factory / Waterford Crystal Factory
Kilbarry
Waterford
Ireland
Kilbarry
Waterford
Ireland
Hours
January 1 to February 28
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
March 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
November 1 to December 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Factory tours offered daily March to October 8:30am to 4:15pm; November to February 9am to 3:15pm Mon to Fri.
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Guides
Guided tour included with admission.
Facilities
Gift shop
Waterford Heritage Museum
Going down Waterford's Parade Quay from the Holy Trinity Cathedral, we pass on the right the French Church. In a building near the church finds from excavations in Waterford and district since 1984 are displayed.
Waterford International Festival of Light Opera
This annual two-week festival takes place in late September and includes nightly performances by amateur operatic societies from throughout the United Kingdom and the United States. A competition and various fringe events are also incorporated in the festival. The main operas are performed in the Theatre Royal.
Waterford International Festival of Light Opera
60 Morrison's Avenue
Waterford
Ireland
60 Morrison's Avenue
Waterford
Ireland
Waterford Museum of Treasures at the Granary
Treasures at the Granary feature exhibits of gold, silver, crystal from eras of the Vikings and Norman invasions, as well as King John.
Waterford Treasures at the Granary
Merchants Quay
Waterford
Ireland
Merchants Quay
Waterford
Ireland
Hours
April 1 to May 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
June 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 |
September 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 | 9:30 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
October 1 to March 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Waterford Surroundings
Curraghmore
On the west side of Portlow is Curraghmore, one of the most beautiful demesnes in the country, with an interesting shell house. An avenue over 1mi/2km long leads to the house (by John Roberts, 1745), seat of the Marquess of Waterford, with good interior decorations and works by famous painters (not open to the public).
Granagh Castle
Northwest of Waterford (the N9, then the N24) in Kilkenny county, stand the imposing ruins of Granagh Castle (National Monument) high above the north bank of the Suir, with a 13th C. keep and curtain walls reinforced by towers and a 16th C. great hall.
Knockeen Dolmen
From Waterford the R675 runs south to Tramore Bay. A minor road on the right leads in 2.5mi/4km to the fine Knockeen Dolmen (National Monument), believed to be 4,000 years old, with a rectangular chamber roofed by overlapping capstones.
Passage East, Ireland
6mi/10km east of Waterford on the R683 lies Passage East, where the River Suir flows into the inlet called Waterford Harbor, after joining the River Barrow at Cheekpoint. This was once a fortified town, where Strongbow landed in 1170 with 1,200 men, going on to take Waterford. There is a passenger ferry to Ballyhack, on the other side of Waterford Harbor.
Portlow
Leaving Waterford on the N25, which runs west up the Suir Valley, and turning northwestwards on to the R680, we come in 9mi/15km to Portlow, an old Quaker settlement, with tanneries which contribute a large proportion of Ireland's leather production.
Touraneena Heritage Center
The Touraneena Heritage Center is located on the 300 year old thatched farmhouse which was the home of the O'Keefe family for the past eight generations. The staffs are dressed in costume and hands on demonstrations in the dairy.
