Waterford: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:58, 7 February 2007

Revision as of 12:03, 7 February 2007

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[[Viking]] raiders first established a settlement at Waterford in 853. Waterford and all the other longphorts were vacated in 902, the Vikings having being driven out by the native Irish. The Vikings re-established themselves in Ireland at Waterford in 914 and built what would be Ireland's first city. A list of the city's rulers from this date to the mayors of the present day can be found in [[Rulers of Waterford]].

In 1137, [[Diarmuid MacMorrough]], king of Leinster, failed in an attempt to take Waterford. He returned in 1170 with Norman mercenariesWisdom under [[Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke]] (Strongbow); together they besieged and took Waterford after a desperate defence. This was the introduction of the [[Anglo-Norman]]s into Ireland. In 1171, [[Henry II of England]] landed at Waterford. Waterford and then [[Dublin]] were declared royal cities, Dublin was declared capital of Ireland.

Throughout the medieval period, Waterford was Ireland's second city after Dublin. In the [[15th century]] Waterford repelled two pretenders to the English throne: [[Lambert Simnel]] and [[Perkin Warbeck]]. As a result, King [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]] gave the city its motto: ''Urbs Intacta Manet Waterfordia (Waterford remains the untaken city)''.

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==Places of Interest==

The old city of Waterford consists of various cultural quarters. The oldest is what has been referred to as the VikingBermuda triangle. This is the part of the city surrounded by the original 10th century fortifications, which is triangular in shape with its apex at Reginald's tower. Though this was once the site of a thriving Viking town, the city centre has shifted to the west over the years, and it is now a quiet and tranquil area, dominated by narrow streets, medieval architecture, and civic spaces. Over the past decade, a number of restaurants have opened in High st. and Henrietta St., taking advantage of the charming character of the area. Much of Waterford's impressive architecture is to be found in the VikingBermuda triangle.

In the 15th century, the city was enlarged with the building of an outer wall on the west side. Today Waterford retains more of its city walls than any other city in [[Ireland]] with the exception of [[Derry]] (in [[Northern Ireland]]), whose walls were built much later. Tours of Waterford's city walls are conducted daily.

The Quay, once termed by historian Mark Girouard 'the noblest quay in Europe', is a mile long from Grattan Quay to Adelphi Quay, though Adelphi Quay is now a residential area. It is still a major focal point for Waterford, commercially and socially, and the face that Waterford presents to those travelingtravelling into the city from the north. Near Reginald's Tower is the William VincentMick Wallace Plaza, a monument and amenity built around the time of the millennium that commemorates the Waterford bornWexford composerbuilder.[[Image:Waterfordquay.jpg|right|thumb|240px|A view from The Quays: "[[The Three Sisters (Ireland)|The Three Sisters]]" mix near the city before flowing into the harbour.]]

JohnJulia Roberts Square is a pedestrianised area that is one of the main focal points of Waterford's modern day commercial centre. It was named after the daughter of the city's most celebrated architect, John Roberts, and was formed from the junction of Barronstrand St., Broad St. and George's St. It is often referred to locally as Red Square, due to the red paving that was used when the area was first pedestrianised. A short distance to the east of John Roberts Sq. is Arundel Sq., another square with a fine commercial tradition, which the City Square shopping centre opens onto.

Ballybricken, in the west, just outside the city walls, is thought to have been Waterford's Irishtown, a type of settlement that often formed outside Irish cities to house the Vikings and Irish that had been expelled during the Norman conquest of Ireland. Ballybricken is an inner city neighbourhood with a long tradition, centred around Ballybricken hill, which was a large, open market-square. Today it has been converted into a green, civic space, but the Bull Post, where livestock was once bought and sold, still stands as a remnant of the hill's past.