Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre
With a tradition dating back to 1783, Waterford was, until recently, the largest and most
respected glassworks in the world. But the economic downturn of 2008 shattered the mar-
ket for luxury items like crystal, and sadly, the huge Waterford Crystal factory outside
town closed in January 2009.
The good news for crystal enthusiasts is that the company was bought by American in-
vestors, who opened a new, scaled-down factory in the town center in 2010. While 70 per-
cent of Waterford Crystal is now manufactured by cheaper labor in Poland, Slovenia, and
the Czech Republic, the finest glass craftsmen still reside here, where they create “prestige
pieces” for special-order customers. The one-hour tour of this hardworking little factory is
a joy; it's more intimate than the old, larger factory. You're encouraged to interact with the
craftsmen.
Waterford's History
Arriving in 819, Vikings first established Waterford as their base for piracy. Water-
ford was a perfect spot for launching their ships, since it's located at the gateway to
one of the most extensive river networks in Ireland. From here, raiders could sail
50 miles into Ireland, an island with no towns, just scattered monastic settlements
and small gatherings of clans—perfect for the Vikings' plan of rape, pillage, and
plunder.
Later, the Vikings decided to “go legit.” They turned to profiteering, setting up
shop in an established trading base they named Vandrafjord, or “safe harbor.” Ire-
land'sfirstpermanenttowneventuallybecameknownasWaterford.Itwasfromthis
base that the Norsemen invaded northern England.
In the 12th century, a deposed Irish king named Diarmuid MacMurrough opened
the Irish version of Pandora's box by inviting the Normans over from England,
hoping to use their advanced military technology to regain his land from a rival
clan. The great warrior knight Strongbow came...and never left, beginning Ireland's
long and troublesome relationship with the English. In 1170, Strongbow married the
Gaelic princess Aoife in the Gothic church that once stood where Waterford's Christ
Church Cathedral stands today. One of Ireland's most famous paintings (hanging in
the National Gallery in Dublin) depicts this event, and a copy of it covers a wall in
Chorister's Hall Medieval Museum. With this marriage, Strongbow was next in line
for the title of King of Leinster, which he was named after the death of his father-in-
law, MacMurrough, a year later.
