Waterford: Ireland's oldest city and its crystal

Founded by Vikings in 914, Waterford remains Ireland's oldest city, famous worldwide for its hand-cut crystal.

The center, Ireland's oldest city famous for crystal, is comfortably explored on foot.

The Reginald's Tower, a Viking fortress from the tenth century, remains the oldest civic building still in continuous use throughout all of Ireland.

Steps away, the Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre showcases the hand-crafting of the famous crystal that made Waterford renowned throughout the world.

Moving along the River Suir one walks through the Viking Triangle, a historic quarter recounting eleven hundred years of Viking, Norman, and Georgian history of the city.

Towards evening, Waterford's riverfront animates with traditional pubs featuring live Irish music.

Waterford was founded by Vikings in the year 914 with the Norse name 'Vedrarfjord,' making it Ireland's oldest city still inhabited continuously to this day, over a thousand years after its founding.

Waterford crystal, produced since 1783, survived a factory closure in 2009 thanks to new investors who brought artisanal production back to the city after years of economic and social uncertainty.