Waterford City Tourism

House of Waterford crystal

Waterford City & County have so much to offer for Tourist of all ages fun for all the family. From the House of Waterford Crystal Museum and many other museums & tours to the fun in the sun at Waterford's wonderful beach's just a short drive outside Waterford City. 

On of the oldest and most famous tours to take is of the House of Waterford Crystal Tour. Which is now located more central into the city centre located on The Mall, Waterford City. In 1783, when Beethoven was publishing his first works and the world’s first hot air balloon took place in Paris, in Waterford City the Penrose’s, George and William, petitioned Parliament for aid to establish the manufacture of flint glass in their Waterford Glass House. They were successful and established an extensive glass manufactory in Waterford city on the 3rd October 1783.

Waterford Treasures

Quite close by just across the road in fact are some of Waterford well know and famous Viking Treasures and artefact's. 

Right on the top of the Quay in Waterford City is the massive stone fortress of Reginald’s Tower. It is said to named for Waterford’s founder Ragnall, hosts beautifully wrought ancient metalwork, including the magnificent Kite Brooch, preserved through the ages. Climb to the top via the narrow spiral staircase, and look out over Waterford, imagining it as it must have appeared in the 13th century.  

Close by, back up by the House of Waterford Crystal is the Medieval Museum displays its own treasures. Featuring the Great Charter Roll of 1373, which depicts Waterford as it was in the medieval ages, and the Cloth-of-Gold vestment, woven in Florence, embroidered in Bruges, and finding a home in Waterford. And finally, the Bishop’s Palace is an elegant townhouse where you can discover another age of Waterford, the Georgian period.

Waterford Beaches

Waterford is home to a number of particularly pretty beaches, but for real seaside magic, the Copper Coast is a must-visit.

TRAMORE

Tramore is a seaside town in County Waterford on the southeast coast of Ireland. A small fishing village until the arrival of the railway in 1853, the town has continually expanded since. Initially the town flourished as a tourist destination and latterly it has developed as a seaside satellite town of Waterford City, which is 13 km to the north. Waterford Airport is located about 6 km northeast. The town is situated on the north-western corner of Tramore Bay on a hill that slopes down to the strand, or sand spit, that divides the bay. Behind the spit lies the tidal lagoon known as the Back Strand. Tramore has an imposing Gothic Revival Catholic Church, on a monumental site overlooking the town, built 1856–1871 by J. J. McCarthy. The area within a 16 km radius of Tramore is an area rich in megalithic structures, signifying habitation long before Christianity.

DUNMORE EAST

Dunmore East serves as one of Waterford's most popular tourist attractions and remains a prominent area for fishing. Dunmore is lucky to have so many sheltered and picturesque coves where excellent swimming and snorkeling activities can be enjoyed. The most popular are Councillors - a south facing beach between lofty red sandstone cliffs, and Lawlors - right by the village.

There are other coves in Dunmore East hidden and secluded but waiting to be explored. These are Stony Cove, Ladies Cove, Mens Cove, and Badgers Cove, which make for excellent places to swim and to snorkel. It is no wonder that these coves were used in olden days by smugglers

Woodstown

Woodstown beach is nestled within the Waterford Estuary and so is a very sheltered haven for visitors during the summer. Woodstown's sandy beach stretches for miles and is great for swimming when the tide is in. When the tide is out, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll along the beach. Woodstown is famous for its sea shells of various types from oysters, mussels, and cockles and with Woodstown's dramatic tidal changes, these shells can be found in all parts of the beach. Woodstown is very popular with families for picnics and long walks and is the perfect place to relax and to take in the beauty of the Waterford Estuary.

The Comeragh Mountains

The Comeragh Mountains are a remarkable and varied range, stretching from the coast near Dungarvan inland as far as Clonmel. The central part of the Comeragh Mountains features a boggy plateau, while the fringe features phenomenally rocky coums filled with a wonderful assortment of little Loughs. Here you will find the rock-walled Coumshingaun and Coum Iarthair, as well as Crotty's Lough, which was named after the outlaw who lay low in these remote fastnesses.  High up in the Comeragh Mountains, there is a spot that has come to be known as Crotty’s Rock. Named for the infamous highwayman William Crotty, local lore holds that he buried untold amounts of treasure here in the 18th century. This remained hidden until 2015, when a group of schoolchildren discovered gold worth millions of euro. The bit worth remembering? According to locals, most of Crotty’s treasures remain buried up in the Comeraghs. With a bit of luck, you might stumble across it as you wind your way through the sprawling mountain paths.  Other deep hollows include Coumstillogue, Coumalocha, Coumfea, and Coumtay. Searching for them all can make for some interesting explorations. (O.S. Discovery Series Map no. 75 covers the area with great detail) A network of forest tracks offer easier walking. 

Waterford Greenway

The Waterford Greenway officially opens on Saturday the 25th of March.  The new greenway makes the way that we can see the sights and beauty of Waterford a real unique experience for walkers and cyclists.  Starting at Waterford city it extents 45 kilometres to Dungarvan, in the west of the county, travelling through some of Ireland’s most scenic landscapes. One of the best things you don’t have to start at the beginning!  You can join the Waterford Greenway at lots of different points along the way. 

Well there is so much!  Leaving Waterford you will travel along the majestic River Suir along an area where the Viking’s first landed in Waterford around 850AD and you will be travelling alongside the track of the Waterford and Suir Valley Railway.  Passing the beautiful gardens of Mount Congreve (which is open every weekend from Thursday to Sunday from 11am to 4.30pm).  There are plans to have an entrance into Mount Congreve.

Spraoi Street Festival

Spraoi International Street Arts Festival has been staged in Waterford, Ireland, since 1993. For three days each year residents of this medieval city take to the streets and enjoy an international programme of street arts and spectacle. The festival is staged on August Bank Holiday Weekend, always marked by the first Monday in August. Waterford’s narrow medieval streets, squares, quays and historic buildings provide an atmospheric backdrop to Spraoi’s celebration of contemporary performance culture. The majority of the events are free and suitable for all ages.

On Sunday of the August Bank Holiday Weekend at 9.30pm over 200 costumed performers take to the streets of Ireland’s oldest city to perform to the theme of the event. Inspired by the Yeats poem, the annual Spraoi Parade mixes magic, mythology and creativity to produce a stunning street spectacle. The Parade with exotic floats, live music, special-effects, is created by a core team of professional artists at Spraoi’s Waterford studios aided by a large corps of volunteers. This is a festival highlight, a feast for the imagination, followed by fireworks, not to be missed.