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Waterford
(population 44,155) is a busy port in the Southeast. Founded
by the Vikings in 850AD as a naval base, it became one of Ireland's
major ports and merchant centres.
Remnants of the walls that the Vikings built around the town
can still be seen today.
The famous Waterford Crystal has been made in the city since
the 18th century. The current operation employs 1600 people,
and it is open for visits year-round.
Attractions
Reginald's
Tower was built in the 12th century on the site of a wooden
Viking tower. The tower houses a museum of local history, which
opens seven days a week during the summer.
The
Treasures Museum at the Granary www.waterfordtreasures.com features
archaeological and historical artefacts. Open seven days a week.
The Catholic Holy Trinity Cathedral (1796).
The 18th-century Christchurch Church of Ireland Cathedral houses
medieval monuments from cathedrals that existed previously on
this site.
The French Church, or Greyfriars, was founded for the Franciscans
in 1240 and used by French Huguenot refugees as a place of worship
from 1693 to 1815.
The City Hall (1788) on the Mall houses the Municipal Art Gallery.
Ring (051) 873501 ext. 489 for information on gallery tour times.
The Waterford Show, a 90-minute musical presentation of the
city's history, is held on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday nights
during the summer at the City Hall.
The 18th-century Theatre Royal, next to the City Hall.
The Waterford Heritage Centre displays Royal Charters and Viking
artefacts.
The ruins of the Dominican Blackfriars Abbey, dating from 1226,
are in Arundel Square.
The 18th-century Saint Patrick's Catholic Church is notable
because it remained a Catholic church despite the English suppression
of Catholicism during the Penal times.
The
Waterford Light Opera Festival runs throughout the month of
September in 2001.
Garter Lane Arts Centre on O'Connell Street hosts films, exhibitions,
poetry readings, and theatre.
The Edmund Rice Centre at Mount Sion on Barrack Street is the
site of the first school founded by Edmund Rice, founder of
the Christian Brothers. The Brothers have been educating Catholic
children in Ireland for almost two centuries.
Amenities
The
Regional Sports Centre on Cork Road has a soccer pitch, pitch
and putt course, tennis courts, an outdoor running track, and
indoor courts for soccer, basketball, and so on.
Greyhound racing at Kilcohan Park on Tuesdays and Saturdays
at 8 pm.
There are four golf clubs in the city area.
Transport
Waterford
Airport is just south of the city, and there are regular flights
to the U.K.
There are four Bus Éireann buses daily to Roslare (51
miles), five in the summer.
Rapid
Express Coaches has at least seven buses to Dublin each day,
and Bus Éireann has ten.
There are four trains a day to Dublin and two trains to Rosslare.
| Useful contact
details for Waterford |
| Bus
Station |
 |
(051)
879000 |
| Train
station |
(051)
873401 |
| Bus
Éireann |
(01)
8366111 http://www.buseireann.ie/ |
| Iarnród
Éireann |
(1850)
366222 |
| |
or
(01) 8366222 http://www.irishrail.ie/ |
| Waterford
Airport |
(051)
875589 |
| Garda
Station |
(051)
305300 |
| Bank
of Ireland |
(051)
872001/872074 |
| AIB |
(051)
873494 |
| Waterford
Chamber of Commerce |
(051)
872639 |
| Waterford
City Enterprise Board |
(051)
852883 |
| Waterford
Regional Hospital |
(051)
873321 |
| Tourist
Information |
(051)
875788 |
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