Main article - History of Waterford

Viking raiders first established a settlement at Waterford in 853. Waterford and all the other longphorts were vacated in 902, the Vikings having being driven out by the native Irish. The Vikings re-established themselves in Ireland at Waterford in 914 and built what would be Ireland's first city. A list of the city's rulers from this date to the mayors of the present day can be found in Rulers of Waterford.

In 1137, Diarmuid MacMorrough, king of Leinster, failed in an attempt to take Waterford. He returned in 1170 with Norman mercenaries under 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 landed at Waterford. Waterford and then Dublin were declared royal cities, Dublin was declared capital of Ireland.

Throughout the medieval period, Waterford was Ireland's second city after Dublin. 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).

After the Protestant Reformation, Waterford remained a Catholic city and participated in the confederation of Kilkenny - an independent Catholic government from 1642-49. This was ended abruptly by Oliver Cromwell, who brought the country back firmly under British rule; his nephew Henry Ireton finally took Waterford in 1650 after a major siege.

The 18th century was a period of huge prosperity for Waterford. Most of the city's best architecture appeared during this time. In the 19th century, great industries such as glass making and ship building thrived in the city.

In July 1922, Waterford was the scene of hard fighting between Irish Free State and Irish Republican troops during the Irish Civil War.

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. The catchment area is estimated to be currently 120,000 given the cities expansion on all sides including into South Kilkenny.

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(WIT) on the western approach into Waterford is a modern third-level college located in the city which was founded in 1970. Originally founded as a Regional Technical College WIT was the first of the Regional Technical Colleges to be upgraded to an Institute of Technology and is currently under consideration for being redesignated the University of the South East.


The city is an important transport centre, the Iarnród Éireann railway system has lines to Dublin, Cork, 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.

The Nova Scotia town of New Waterford was named after Waterford.