Waterford City Top 10 Highlights Walking Tour

Exterior visit to one of the cultural icons of Ireland and Waterford City at the House of Waterford Crystal. This famous landmark is how Waterford became one of the best known cities in the 20th century.The House of Waterford Crystal is located close to the Viking Quarter dated back to the 9th century. This esteemed factory is the beating heart of the world’s luxury crystal manufacture and is where the most intricate, authentic and masterful crystal pieces are crafted.

Reginald’s Tower is Waterford’s landmark monument and Ireland’s oldest civic building. It has been in continuous use for over 800 years. The first tower on the site was built by Vikings after 914 and formed the apex of the triangular settlement, an area known to this day as the Viking Triangle. Re-built by the Anglo Normans in the 12th century the top two floors were added in the 15th century. Until about 1700 the tower was the strongpoint of the medieval defensive walls that enclosed the city. The tower now houses an exhibition on Viking Waterford and is managed by the Office of Public Works.

Discover Thomas Francis Meagher - no other Irishman this side of St. Patrick led a more colorful life, a life that reads like a movie script and epitomizes the label "fighting Irish. A mayor's son in Waterford, student in England, revolutionary in Tipperary, outcast in Tasmania, writer in Costa Rica, Union officer in New York, and governor of Montana. This stop will include enthralling narration about this Waterford hero.

Enjoy an incredible exterior visit to the Bishop's Palace - a magnificent Georgian residence and a must-see attraction in Waterford. It is rated the #3 attraction in Waterford on TripAdvisor. The Bishop’s Palace charts the history of Waterford from 1700 to 1970. The expert local guide at this stop will give a wonderful insight into the history of the Bishop's Palace & Waterford what was from the 1750s to the present.

Visit a replica of a Viking longboat, modeled on one of the famous Viking ships found at Roskilde, in Denmark. The 33ft keel and planks of the longboat are of Irish oak and the sailcloth is a canvas weave and offer the perfect backdrop to the guides incredible narration on the 9th century Viking invasion of Ireland. Continue on to the Giant ‘Dragonslayer’ Viking Sword.The world’s longest wooden sword sculpture is now in place at its new home in the heart of the Viking Triangle in Waterford City.

Visit this wonderful Church located near the Viking Triangle
with a beautiful blue colonnades interior leading to a lovely altar with an extremely interesting religious art and iconography collection. This must-see architectural highlight dates back to 1793.

Sit in the very seats that commemorate one of th most important historical events that occurred in Ireland. This pair of bronze sculptures celebrates the marriage of Strongbow to Aoife MacMurrough. The arranged wedding occurred in 1170. Strongbow was a Norman conqueror of Waterford and other parts of Ireland and she was an Irish Princess, the daughter of King Dermot MacMurrough. Learn about the importance of this marriage and how it changed the course of Irish history.

Visit the very site where the Vikings built their first church in 914. The church dedicated to Holy Trinity was built on the site of Christ Church Cathedral in 1050 by Reginald, son of Sigtryg (Sitric), who also gave his name to Reginald’s Tower on the quays. This historical location is one of the most important in Ireland and is a must-do when visiting Waterford.

Visit this poignant memorial dedicated to John Cordon from Waterford, the youngest recorded casualty on the Allied side in the first World War, who died in Flanders at the age of just 14.

Visit the Harbor area to visit the 19th century Clock tower made in Gothic Revival style completed in 1863. This architecturally interesting structure located on the Waterford City quayside boasts intricate design features. Originally the Clock Tower had troughs for working horses to drink from. This intriguing stop will explain the unique mechanisms of the clock and about the importance of the the port of Waterford from the 10th century to the present day it's role as port of departure during the great famine to the New World.