County Waterford

County Waterford

Waterford City is Ireland's oldest city, founded by the Vikings in 853 A.D. The city was later extended by the Anglo-Norman's and today's city boasts the most extensive range of medieval defensive walls and towers in Ireland. Waterford is also known as the Crystal County and Waterford City is the capital of the Sunny South East of Ireland. Since Waterford City was established in Viking times and it has an exciting medieval flavour and riverside bustle. In 2005 the City was host to the Tall Ships Race.

A natural playground for Golf, Equestrian, Walking, Angling, Water Sports and Cycling, enthusiasts, Waterford offers the complete holiday experience. The county offers a dazzling coastline, beautiful river valleys and two dramatic ranges of very accessible mountains. The City is the home of Waterford Crystal, a lifestyle product of exquisite craftsmanship.

Dungarvan, the administrative capital for the county, is set in a broad, magnificent bay. In between are lively and quiet Seaside Resorts like Tramore, the spectacular Geopark on the Copper Coast, and lovely mountain & river valley towns and villages. Houses & Gardens, where grace and beauty can be admired at leisure, are part of a rich heritage which includes Pre-Historic & Historic Sites.

The town of Lismore was originally a monastic settlement founded in the 7th Century by St. Carthage, a Heritage Town, it was the centre of ecclesiastical and temporal power for centuries. Sophisticated fashion stores and high quality craft centres complete a holiday picture that is sure to please.

Crafts & Shopping

Waterford offers a choice to shoppers ranging through sophisticated fashion shops, craft shops, modern malls including City Square and superb delicatessens and colourful traditional, family owned shops. As the South East's shopping capital, the shops open seven days and late nights. The City Square Shopping Centre includes two major Irish Department Stores, a supermarket, 40 Shops, which include a full range of top quality gents, ladies and children's fashions, restaurants, hairdressing, etc. There are many exquisite and imaginative hand-crafted products produced in the city and county.

Genealogy

Waterford, like all counties in Ireland, suffered from mass emigration during traumatic and repressive periods in the country's history. There is a large expatriate population of Irish related people scattered throughout the world. Waterford has a particular affinity with Newfoundland, where there is a large colony of people with Waterford roots. The Genealogical Centre at Waterford Heritage Survey, Jenkin's Lane, Waterford, offers a family research service for the City and County of Waterford.
Tel.: +353 51 876123. Fax: +353 51 850645.
Email: mnoc@iol.ie

Historic Sites

There are many historic sites well worth visiting in Waterford - Towers, Castles, Norman Forts and Motte & Baileys, and Period Houses. Ecclesiastical Sites, Abbeys, Cathedrals, Churches.
In Waterford City the major historic sites are as follows:

Reginald's Tower, (9th c.);
The City Walls, (10th c.),
Christchurch Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, (18th c.),
St. Olave's Church, (rebuilt 1734),
St. Patrick's Churches (18th c.)
Bishop's Palace (1741),
City Hall (1783),
Waterford Courthouse (1849).

West Waterford

In Dungarvan the principal historic attractions include St. Mary's Church (1828), Dungarvan Museum, The Market House (17th c.), St. Garvan's Church, Dungarvan Castle (12th c.), Friary House (1871), Town Hall (1870s), St. Augustine Church (1873), St. Mary's Parish Church (early 19th c.) and the Augustinian Abbey. Field monuments in the Dungarvan area includea Norman Motte & Bailey. The historic sites on the Lismore & The Vee Drive are Lismore Castle, St. Carthage's Cathedral, St. Carthage's Parish Church, Lismore Hotel and The Library, all in Lismore. Cappoquin House in Cappoquin and Mount Mellary Abbey, outside Cappoquin.

Ardmore Round Tower & Cathedral is a famous ecclesiastical site in Ardmore founded by St. Declan. Dromana House (17th century) and Dromana Gate near Villierstown are other major attractions in West Waterford. Mothel Abbey (13th c.) near Rathgormack is a noted historic site. Dungarvan & The Coast Drive has the historic sites of Stradbally Medieval Church and Dunhill Castle, near Dunhill. Molana Abbey (12th c.) near Glendine, Tourin House & Gardens near Cappoquin and Ballyduff Castle, near Ballyduff, are the main attractions on the lovely Blackwater Valley Scenic Drive.

 
East Waterford

On the East Waterford Gaultier Coast Drive. Historic sites include Waterford Castle in Waterford City, Geneva Barracks near Woodstown, Dunmore East Castle (12th c.) in Dunmore East and the 19th century navigation towers at Brownstown Head. The Suir Valley Drive boasts the elegant Ormond Castle & Manor House, (16th c.) and Old Carrick Bridge, both in Carrick-on-Suir and historic sites in Clonmel: West Gate; Wesleyan Chapel (1843); SS Peter & Paul Church (1814); the Main Guard (1647); Franciscan Friary (12th c.); Town Hall, (1881);and the Courthouse (1802).

 
Drives & Highlights

The Comeragh Mountains

The Comeragh Mountain and Nire Valley Drives embrace the scenery and splendour of the mountains which form the spine of County Waterford. Panoramas include the Atlantic coast to the south and Slieve na Mban in the Galty Mountains above Clonmel to the North on the Nire Drive. Highlights on this drive include pre-historic sites, standing stones, fulachta and cairns at Kilbrien, Mothel Abbey, Mahon Falls, and, of course, horse riding, angling and guided walks from Ballymacarbry.
 
Dungarvan & The Copper Coast Drive

The Dungarvan & The Copper Coast Drive embraces the panoramic seascapes, cliffs, bays and coves between Dungarvan and the major seaside resort of Tramore as well as more intimate Seaside Resorts with Blue Flag Beaches, Clonea and Bunmahon. Highlights include Dungarvan Town Trail, Dungarvan Museum, Augustinian Abbey, Stradbally, Dunhill Castle, and Matthewstown Gallery Grave.
 

The Copper Coast - Fenor to Stradbally

Just West of Tramore lies one of the most spectacular coastal stretches in Ireland. Known as the copper Coast, due to the tradition of Copper Mining in the area. This coastal stretch passes through five small villages:
Fenor, (Forest, Lakes, Fenor Bog, Kilfarrasy Beach), Annestown, (sweeping beach), Boatstrand with its little harbour, (swimming and diving), Bunmahon (Mining trail, geological park, Blue Flag Beach, cliff walks panoramic views) and Stradbally ( award winning picturesque village, sandy coves, woodlands, crystal clear water). Just off the route is the traditional village of Dunhill, where good food and traditional music abound. 
  
East Waterford Gaultier Coast Drive

The East Waterford Gaultier Coast Drive is a beautiful peninsular drive contained by Waterford Harbour on one side and magnificent Tramore Bay on the other. Highlights include the very picturesque resort of Dunmore East, the protected beach at Woodstown, the scenic fishing village of Cheekpoint, the estuary car ferry port of Passage East and Harrison Megalithic Tomb.
 

Lismore & The Vee Drive

Lismore & The Vee Drive is a spectacularly beautiful drive where the scenery climbs and dips and changes constantly. Highlights include Lismore Heritage Town, The Vee viewpoint, the gardens and pet farm round Clogheen, Mount Mellary Abbey and Cappoquin House & Gardens.
 
Gaeltacht & Galltacht Drive

September 4th-7th

Terra Madre or “Mother Earth” is a one day all-island food policy conference and a four-day food festival. This all-island event will gather together food producers, policy-makers, manufacturers, academics, scientists, retailers, writers, chefs and food enthusiasts. The conference on Friday September 5th , will be attended by Food Ministers North and South and addressed by President Mary McAleese, and will provide a plat­form for the expression of various views on food policy and issues – all in a convivial atmosphere around the celebration and sharing of good food

Apart from the conference, other plans during the four-day food festival include an open air banquet for 1,000 people in Waterford City,a major Farmers Market, a Gala Dinner and Awards ceremony, culinary demonstrations, tours to artisan food manufacturers in the southeast, visits
to speciality producers and best practice farms in Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford and South Tipperary, as well as tastings, picnics and competitions.

The conference will be held at the Waterford Institute of Technology’s recently opened new Tourism & Leisure Building, which has allowed the Institute to develop additional research programmes in areas as diverse as culinary arts and food sciences.

Waterford is the location of Terra Madre Ireland 2008 and the city and region have a lot to offer visitors no matter what the occasion.   Within 30 miles of Waterford in every direction is a wealth of heritage, scenery and activities including some of the most popular tourist attractions in Ireland. If you choose to attend the Terra Madre as part of a longer break, and we certainly think it is worth considering, you will never be short of places to see, things to do, or places to eat.

There will be a high demand for accommodation in Waterford during the weekend of the conference and delegates are advised to make their accommodation arrangements in good time. There are a wide range of options in Waterford and its environs with places like Tramore, Dunmore East, New Ross, Dungarvan and Clonmel all within 30-40 minutes drive from Waterford.

Contact

Visit the website: www.terramadreireland.com

Email:  karen@terramadreireland.com

Email: terramadre@slowfood.it

Waterford Spraoi Festival

August Bank Holiday Weekend

The Spraoi Festival, held over the August Bank Holiday weekend in Ireland, is an annual riot of colour, energy and excitement with an atmosphere that is unique among Irish festivals.

It takes over the city centre of Waterford for three days, transforming the streets and quays of the city into a giant stage for acts from all over the world. And it's all free!

The Spraoi Parade, the company's own production, is traditionally held on Sunday evening and is the highlight of the festival. It's followed by a dazzling fireworks display over the River Suir, a fitting climax to a great outdoor spectacle

 
Contact

Address:Waterford Spraoi, The Studios, Carrickpherish, Waterford City, Republic of Ireland
 
Telephone: +353 (0)51 841808  

Web: www.spraoi.com