I am often perplexed by the number of things that I don’t know, that I think I should, and going to Waterford was certainty a way to unexpectantly intensify those feelings. Some facts about Waterford that maybe I should have known:

• It was founded by the Vikings in 914AD and is Ireland’s oldest city
• It is the 5th largest city in Ireland 
• It has never taken (or conquered I think would be a better description). 
• Crystal has been being manufactured here since 1783
• The phrase by hook or by crook originated here, as these are two places names on either side of the city and Cromwell vowed to take the city by Hook or by Crooke (he didn’t)
• It is the only city in Europe to have both a Catholic and Protestant Church designed and built by the same man (I must say I found them both pretty ordinary – didn’t even take a photo)
• The Irish tri  colour was created by Thomas Meagher who was from Waterford
• The seahorse with a shamrock shaped tail is the trademark for Waterford Crystal, whilst the coat or arms for the city of Waterford has a lion and a dolphin – who knew ! 

We spent time some time in Waterford Crystal watching the very talented glass blowers and welders at work, it is amazing to watch these guys in action, and really does make you appreciate the work that goes into a piece.    

    
 After going through Waterford Crystal we were left to our devices, so my trusty museum, church and when he really has to castle companion (Vic) and I went in search of some Medieval and Viking history, and boy did we find it, as well as those churches (major disappointments), so back to the interesting stuff. 

Our first stop was the Medieval Museum, sadly the bottom floor was closed but there were some really fabulous pieces on the rope two floors. This museum holds the only set of medieval vestments held in Northern Europe, they date back to the 1460’s and are made from Italian silk woven in Florence. The panels were embroiled in Bruges and they depict various scenes from the Bible and from the life of the Virgin Mary. The photos won’t do these pieces justice they are truly beautiful and look really heavy. They are regarded as one of the greatest treasures of late Medieval Europe.   

    
   
I could actually rabbit on about this museum for ages. We were able to see  four metre charter rolls that were made in 1373, that included portraits of the Kings of England that came to Ireland, as well as beautifully crafted wooden pieces of the Virgin Mary, St Stephen and Jesus. This place is phenomenal.  

    
 And then we headed to the Vikings….in Reginald’s Tower, where there were points in the spiral staircase that even I had to mind my head ! The first tower was built by Vikings in 914, with the current tower being used continuously for the last 800 years. Until the 1700’s the tower was a strongpoint of the medieval defensive walls that enclosed the city. There is now a Viking exhibition within it, which includes story time sessions which we caught a little bit of and if we hadn’t been slightly desperate for a decent coffee before we got back on the bus we might have stayed.  

    
   I know right, Waterford is awesome and so much more than I expected. 

From here we travel back to Lucan Sarsfields GAA club where the boys had their first game for the final game of the series against each other. James and Isaac were on the victorious team…. Yeah I know footy was the winner on the day !     

   Then our final Irish shopping mall (we have seen a lot of these) and back to the harbour to board our ferry headed toward Holy Head – it is a very long day but one I have thoroughly enjoyed, we spend the last few hours of the day playing cards as we cruise back toward the UK…