Waterford County

History & Culture

County Waterford’s history is no less compelling than that of its terrain, with several conquests, trade, and cultural peculiarities over the years. Not only is this region home to Ireland’s oldest city, but it also has a fascinating history of a variety of events and cultural expressions. Waterford’s history goes back a long way and is also Ireland’s most ancient city. It was founded in 914 AD by the Vikings and has since evolved to form Ireland’s most enriched tapestries. Additionally, the region was part of the old Kingdom of the Déise before the coming of the Vikings. This part of County Waterford is known as the Viking Triangle, named after the great Reginald’s Tower, which was the heart of Waterford’s Viking neighbourhood. Waterford shortly grew in prominence, developing a medieval area that engulfed the original Viking Quarter.

The history of Waterford is a story of culture and commerce. Waterford was much more pivotal strategically after the Normans conquered the island in the 12th century. Waterford was secured with walls that still stand as a monumental testament of the ancient times. During the medieval period, Waterford was Ireland’s most prominent town, occupied in vast commerce with England and the Isle. This commerce brought war in the early 14th century and yet Waterford prospered, with cathedrals and church buildings from the ‘20s and ‘30s.

Monuments on the island of Ireland, Waterford was a key site during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. It was one of the last urban centers in Ireland to capitulate to Cromwell’s forces in 1650 before being settled. Its resistance underscores its strategic and tough civil and defensive viability. Fast forward to modern days and Waterford County. The glass making sector was established in the late eighteenth century by the Waterford Governors, eventually becoming internationally renowned for producing superb glass. The establishment of Waterford Crystal lent a new dimension of industrial and artistic brilliance to the county.

Cultural Waterford County has a rich inventory of literature, music, and the artistry of generations of people due to the layered history and impact of varied civilizations. Waterford has a dynamic art community, with many renowned facilities like the Garter Lane Arts Centre in Waterford City and the Theatre Royal, providing a home for local and global performers. It also hosts music festivals, with sessions in bars and the big pub circuit showcasing the live performance of Irish pipes and dances.

Festival Waterford County offers several festivals that honor our innovative bandwidth and heritage. The Waterford Film Festival is one of Ireland’s first film festivals, a symbol of the particular passion for film culture in the region. The Spraoi International Street Arts Festival, see the streets of Waterford come alive with performers from Ireland and abroad; the Waterford Harvest Festival, celebrating our land and eatery, harvesting and previous foods, are some of the well-known back street spectacle harvest festivals. Waterford thus protects and nurtures its legacy, rendering it accessible and appealing to upcoming generations with ongoing cultural festivals, displays, and creative events. County Waterford is unique in its historical perspective and cultural freshness. It is a place where you can learn and find oneself about Ireland’s past and present.