Places to See in Waterford City and County
Waterford City
Reginald's Tower
Reginald's Tower is the oldest civic structure in Ireland and is the best of the six surviving towers in Waterford City.
A Viking fortification was built on this site during the 10th Century, as it was strategically located on high ground with the mighty Suir on one side and an inlet of the St John's River on the other side.
It is named after Ragnall Mac Gillemaire, the Irish-Viking Ruler of the City, who was held captive here by the Anglo-Normans in 1170.
It is also where Strongbow, the leader of the Anglo-Norman force, married Aoife, the daughter of Dermot McMurrough, the King of Leinster, an alliance which changed the course of Irish history.
Reginald's Tower is open to the public and is well worth a visit.
Waterford Museum of Treasures
The Granary building hosts the Waterford Museum of Treasures, a multi-award winning visitor attraction right in the heart of Waterford at Hanover Street, beside Dooley's Hotel. The Museum tells the fascinating story of Waterford, from its very beginnings right through its turbulent history up to modern times. There are many exhibits and displays and the visitor is taken on a compelling audiovisual tour of our Viking City. The Granary also hosts the local tourist office, a gift shop and an award-winning cafe.
There are many other places of interest around the City, which you might like to visit, or which you may see as you ramble around. Enjoy
Waterford County
The Waterford Coast
The Waterford coast is long and indented and there are many beaches, bays, piers, wetlands and coves which a visitor to our county can enjoy. There are many towns and villages also, where food, accommodation and refreshments can be had and even if these are not available in some of the smaller villages, they are still worth a visit. The images below are a snapshot of what can be seen and the map at the end shows where these places are. Enjoy!
Cheekpoint and Passage East
Cheekpoint and Passage East are fishing villages on the west side of Waterford Harbour and are popular places to visit. Cheekpoint, which is nearer to Waterford City, has wonderful views of Great Island generating station, the railway bridge over the River Barrow and the Suir upriver. There are also superb views of Waterford Harbour from high ground approaching the Village. Passage East is further down the estuary from where the ferry to Wexford can be taken. Both villages have a strong fishing tradition, especially for salmon in summer, though most commercial fishing for salmon has been suspended to allow the stocks to recover.
Dunmore East
Dunmore East is an attractive village close to Waterford, renowned for its thatched cottages and kittiwake colony and it is a busy but quaint coastal resort in summer. It also supports an important fishery harbour. There are several good places to eat and drink (The Haven Hotel, The Strand, the Spinnaker, The Ocean, Powers) and sing too!
Old Dunmore East
At the turn of the 20th Century, Dunmore was a very different place than it is now, especially the Harbour area. What a change that has taken place here in the last 100 years or so, as these photographs from the Lawrence Collection clearly show. The photographs are undated but they were taken in the period 1880-1914. Notice in the first photo that the offshore island (Oilean na Glioch) is connected to the mainland by a pointed-arch bridge, designed by Alexander Nimmo. Oilean na Glioch was removed in the 1960s to make way for the new pier.
Ardmore
Ardmore is an attractive coastal village in the west of the county. It was recently included as one of the top destinations in Ireland that visitors to our shores like to visit when they come to Ireland. Ardmore is best known for its picturesque Round Tower, which is a fine sentinel, overlooking the village. There is also a long sandy beach, lovely restaurants (White Horses, for example), pubs and the very beautiful Cliff House Hotel which is very carefully incorporated into the towering cliffs on the west side of the Bay and which has superb views of Ardmore Bay and the west Waterford coastline.
Dungarvan
Dungarvan is the administrative capital of county Waterford, and is a lively town, with a long seafaring tradition. It is a harbour town located in the heart of the county and it is a great base from where to visit other parts of the county. It is also a great place for singers, songwriters and bands, and they always welcome anyone willing and able to sing a song.
Lismore
Lismore, in the west of the county, is Waterford's premier Heritage Town and is steeped in history and tradition. It has a dramatic castle which dominates the access road into the town, on the banks of the Blackwater, which is one of Ireland's finest salmon rivers. There are several fine restaurants and quaint but lively pubs and it is close to the rolling hills of the Knockmealdown Mountains. A great place to visit.
The Comeragh Mountains
The Comeraghs are a beautiful mountain range in central Waterford ringed by a series of spectacular corries or coums. The parent rock is Old Red Sandstone, and Coum Mahon, the most accessible coum, is easily reached by road. It is around 24 kilometres from Waterfor City. Ask in the Tourist Office.
