Waterford is the oldest city in Ireland. The Vikings claimed the land and founded the settlement that is now Waterford in 914 AD. True to the belligerent nature of the city’s founders, Waterford’s history is characterized by intermittent warfare. In 1170 Normans from England fought a pitched battle with the Waterfordians that ended with the Normans assuming control over the city. At that point Waterford was considered second on the island only to Dublin, the capital.

Perhaps the proudest moment in the nearly 1100 years of Waterford’s history was in the 1400s, when King Henry VII of England dubbed the city “Urbs Intacta,” the Untaken City. Waterford had just repulsed two invasions led by challengers to Henry’s throne. Waterford lived up to its reputation in 1642 when it established itself as a rogue Catholic city in the midst of newly Protestant Ireland.

When Oliver Cromwell attempted to reclaim Waterford in 1649 he was initially unsuccessful. However, Cromwell’s nephew took Waterford less than the year later, placing the city at the mercy of his uncle’s dictatorship. From then on the course of Waterford’s history parallels Ireland’s. The first Waterford crystal manufacturers started making glass in the 1800s, and today their creations are world-renowned.

Modern Waterford is prosperous, populous and has managed to keep its legacy as Ireland’s oldest city alive. For more historical information with a focus on genealogy, visit the Waterford County Museum in Dungarvan, Waterford.

Tourist Office - History of Waterford