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Waterford
Urbs Intacta Manet Waterfordia
"Waterford remains the untaken city"
Waterford (Irish: Port Lairge) is, historically, the capital of County Waterford in Ireland, though today the city is administered separately from the county, the latter having its seat in Dungarvan.
Waterford was Ireland's first city, founded by the vikings in 914 AD, which is approximately 1-2 hundred years older than Dublin. Today Waterford is the fourth largest city in the Republic of Ireland.
In April 2003 an important site combining a 5th century Iron Age and 9th century Viking settlement was discovered at Woodstown near the city.
Waterford - History
Main article - History of Waterford
From 795 AD, Vikings had been raiding along the coast of Ireland. Soon the Vikings over-wintered in Ireland at ships' havens called Longphorts. A longphort was established at Waterford in 853. Waterford and all the other longphorts were vacated in 902, the Vikings having being driven out by the native Irish. According to the Irish annals, the Vikings re-established themselves in Ireland at Waterford in 914 and built what would be Ireland's first city.
During the late tenth and early eleventh centuries, the rise of the Brian Boru saw Waterford and a number of other Viking ports, being firmly brought under the control of the Ua Briain dynasty. This was important as it became increasingly obvious that the control of the Viking ports, gave potential Irish High Kings, greater access to international trade, and man power.
In 1137, Diarmuid MacMorrough, king of Leinster, failed in an attempt to take Waterford. He was trying to secure the large centres in order to advance his claim for high king of Ireland. In 1170 MacMorrough allied himself with 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-Normans into Ireland. In 1171, Henry II of England became the first English king to set foot in an Irish city, by landing with a large fleet at Waterford; he did so to ensure that Ireland became an English colony and not a rival Norman country. Waterford and Dublin were declared royal cities, and belonged to the king, not Strongbow; Dublin was declared capital of Ireland.
Throughout the medieval period, Waterford was Ireland's second city after Dublin. Waterford's great parchment book (1361-1649) represents the earliest use of the English language in Ireland for official purposes. In the 15th century Waterford repelled two pretenders to the English throne: Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck. As a result, King Henry VII gave the city its motto: Urbs Intacta Manet Waterfordia (Waterford remains the untaken city).
During the Reformation under King Henry VIII and his successors, Waterford remained loyal to the crown; but upon the coronation of James VI of Scotland as king of England in 1603, the citizens participated in an uprising that was common to the coastal cities of Munster and refused entry to Mountjoy, the king's lord deputy, who had just secured the surrender of Hugh O'Neill. The motivation for Waterford's defiance lay in the people's demand for freedom of religion - they were led by Catholic priests and reconsecrated several churches in the city - although there were also mutterings about the nationality of the new king. In time, Lord Mountjoy was granted entry to the city and the citizens pledged their loyalty anew.
Waterford remained a Catholic city and participated in the confederation of Kilkenny which was an attempt to break away from English rule. This was ended abruptly by Oliver Cromwell, who brought the country back firmly under British rule; his nephew Henry Ireton finally took Waterford in 1651.
The 18th century was a period of huge prosperity for Waterford. Most of the city's best architecture appeared during this time. Trading with Newfoundland brought much wealth into what was then the third largest port. In the 19th century, great industries such as glass making and ship building thrived in the city. Thomas Francis Meagher (Meagher of the sword), an Irish nationalist, made the first Irish tricolour. He brought it back from France and it was first flown from a building on the Mall in Waterford. In the early 20th century John Redmond was MP for Waterford and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, which almost achieved home rule and a new parliament for Ireland.
Waterford - Notable Historical Figures
- Peter Lombard (1555 - 1625) Archbishop of Armagh.
- Luke Wadding (1588 - 1657) Franciscan Historian and Theologian. (Responsible for the introduction of St. Patricks Day as a Universal Feast Day)
- Thomas Wyse (1791 - 1862) Politician and Diplomat.
- Margaret Aylward (1810 - 1889) Founder of the Sisters of the Holy Faith.
- William Vincent Wallace (1814 - 1865) Composer.
- Thomas Francis Meagher (1823 - 1867) Irish Patriot.
- John Condon (1901 - 1915) Youngest soldier to die on the Allied side in WWI.
The Three Sisters: The River Barrow, River Nore and River Suir, Blaa, a doughy, white bread roll peculiar to Waterford City, Waterford Airport, Woodstown - Early Viking Settlement discovered near Waterford in 2003, on the banks of the River Suir.
Waterford - Today
Statistics from the Central Statistics Office Census 2002 show that the population within the city is 44,594, whilst the greater urban population is 46,736. Waterford's effective population is much larger than this, with many people living in the towns and villages surrounding the city: the largest of these is Tramore (pop. 8,305) and the city borders County Kilkenny and County Waterford which have 11,459 and 18,353 respectively near the city boundaries.
Waterford is also an important education and industrial centre, and like other coastal cities this has had an impact in the economy and society. The most famous product of the city is Waterford Crystal which originated when a glassmaking factory was opened in the city in 1783. Waterford Institute of Technology is a modern college located in the city and was founded in 1970, the city is also the location of several other noted colleges and schools.
The city is an important transport centre, the Iarnrod Eireann railway system has lines to Dublin, Limerick and Wexford. Several important roads in Ireland meet at Waterford, the N9 road is the main road to Dublin (via the N7 road) and also passes Kilkenny, Carlow, and Kildare, among others.
Waterford Airport and the Port of Waterford are two important infrastructural sites in presenting the city as a regional city and centre.
See also
- The Three Sisters: The River Barrow, River Nore and River Suir
- Blaa, a doughy, white bread roll peculiar to Waterford City
- Waterford Airport
- Woodstown - Early Viking Settlement discovered near Waterford in 2003, on the banks of the River Suir.
Other related archives1555, 1588, 15th century, 1625, 1657, 1783, 1791, 1810, 1814, 1823, 1862, 1865, 1867, 1889, 1901, 1915, Anglo-Normans, Blaa, Brian Boru, Carlow, Catholic, Central Statistics Office, County Kilkenny, County Waterford, Diarmuid MacMorrough, Dublin, Dungarvan, English language, Henry II of England, Henry Ireton, Henry VII, Henry VIII, History of Waterford, Iarnrod Eireann, Ireland, Irish, Irish Parliamentary Party, Irish tricolour, Iron Age, James VI, John Redmond, Kildare, Kilkenny, Lambert Simnel, Limerick, Luke Wadding, N7 road, N9 road, Newfoundland, Oliver Cromwell, Perkin Warbeck, Peter Lombard, Port of Waterford, Republic of Ireland, Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, River Barrow, River Nore, River Suir, The Three Sisters, Thomas Francis Meagher, Thomas Wyse, Tramore, Viking, Waterford Airport, Waterford Crystal, Waterford Institute of Technology, Wexford, William Vincent Wallace, Woodstown, brought the country back firmly under British rule, city, confederation of Kilkenny, glassmaking, roads in Ireland
 Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Waterford", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
