This month, we're promoting our new "Explore Ireland" page! Take a look here at some interesting facts about County Waterford.
Irish Name: Port Láirge - "Lárag's port"
Nickname: The Suirsiders, The Crystal County, The Déise
Population: 114,000
Area: 717 square miles
Province: Munster
County Town: Waterford
GAA Colors: Blue and white
Waterford City in County Waterford. (Ireland's Content Pool)
Famous People with roots in County Waterford
Civil War general Thomas Francis Meagher, Tyrone Power, John O'Shea, playwright Teresa Deevy, Sean Dunne, Thomas Sir Wyse, Richard T O, William Vincent Wallace.
Common Surnames in County Waterford
Aylward, Barron, Butler, Comerford, Dalton, Duggan, Fallon, Farrell, Fay, Fitzgerald, Flynn, Foley, Harper, Henebry, Keane, Kelly, Le Poer, Lombard, MacGraw, MacGrath, Magrath, McCarthy, Morris, Morrissey, Mulcahy, Murphy, O'Brick, O'Brien, O'Comley, O'Conran, O'Cotter, O'Crotty, O'Dennehy, O'Felan, O'Flahavan, O'Flanagan, O'Geary, O'Keane, O'Lonergan, O'Merry, O'Morrisey, O'Mullany, O'Neill, O'Phelan, Ormonde, Phelan, Power, Rodger, Rodgers, Roger, Rogers, Ryan, Sherlock, Talbot, Tobin, Shannon, Small, Sullivan, Wadden, Wadding, Wall, Walsh, Waters, Whelan, White, Wyse.
A brief history of County Waterford
Though Waterford’s name is handed down from the Viking influence in the region, the area’s history of course precedes this. It was inhabited by a Gaelic tribe called the Déise, who conquered the area some time between the 4th and 8th centuries after being driven out of the region known today as southern County Meath and northern County Kildare. They were converted to Christianity by Saint Declan, who also founded the monastery at Ardmore.
The Vikings came to the area in the mid to late 800s, as is evidenced by the remains of Woodstown, a Viking settlement just west of Waterford city. It is the only large-scale Viking settlement of that era to be found in Western Europe and was likely the largest Viking settlement of Scandinavia. Vikings founded Waterford city in 941 – the name comes from the Old Nose Vedrarfjord. Reginald’s Tower, in the city’s historic Viking section, is the oldest civic, urban structure in Ireland.
During the Norman Invasion of Ireland, King Henry II of England came to Waterford, in 1171, and declared it one of two royal cities in Ireland, the other being Dublin.
Key attractions in County Waterford
Today, the county’s name is synonymous around the world with fine Irish crystal works, due to the House of Waterford Crystal, located in Waterford city, which offers guided tours of its factory.
Inside the House of Waterford Crystal in Waterford City, County Waterford. (Ireland's Content Pool)
There are many other attractions in Waterford city, including remnants of its Viking days. Reginald’s Tower is now home to a museum housing two fascinating collections: on the ground floor, artefacts from the Viking and Medieval periods are on display. The mezzanine floor houses one of Ireland's great collections of decorated charters and civic regalia. Elsewhere in Waterford city, the Treasures at the Granary visitor’s center gives an overview of the town's history throughout the centuries.
Reginald's Tower in County Waterford. (Ireland's Content Pool)
The city sits on the banks of the River Suir, which is the third-largest river in Ireland. Waterford is also home to the country’s fourth-largest river, the Munster Blackwater. There is good fishing and angling throughout the county, and Waterford's seaside resorts are nationally famous and the recipient of European awards.
River Suir in County Waterford. (Ireland's Content Pool)
A coastal county, Waterford has a number of beautiful beaches. A coastal stretch known as the Copper Coast is a designated UNESCO geopark, due to its geological diversity and its metal mining history.
Copper Coast in County Waterford. (Ireland's Content Pool)
The seaside town of Tramore has miles of golden beaches and every kind of watersport available for the beginner and the expert.
Tramore Beach in County Waterford. (Ireland's Content Pool)
Dungarvan, Waterford’s administrative capital, is beautifully set on Dungarvan Bay and is the starting point for several driving tours of the county along the coast. There are many to choose from, including a drive through the Gaeltacht area of Waterford or the Comeragh Mountains.
An Rinn (Ring), Dungarvan in County Waterford. (Ireland's Content Pool)
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