Waterford - Reginald's Tower

This past Saturday I decided to take a day trip with the children to Waterford. It took us about an hour and 45 minutes.  It was an easy drive because they have recently built a bigger highway going south. Waterford is the oldest city in Ireland. Today the town is famous for the crystal but we actually learned that the crystal is named after the town. I never knew that.  Waterford is really just a plain and grey town but has a lot of medieval history. 

We first went to Reginald's Tower which is named after Regnall, the first Viking leader of Waterford, who built this tower in 914. This tower is Ireland's oldest intact building and the first made with mortar. The children liked climbing this tower which is full of Viking artifacts. When they got to the top they were disappointed that was the end. They wanted to go higher! 

T and K in front of the Tower

High above the door is a cannonball embedded from Cromwell's siege on the city. 
Waterford was the only Irish city to withstand Cromwell's siege. 

People were definitely shorter 800 years ago

They love to climb

The view outside one of the windows to the river

Still climbing...

HUGE Fireplace!

Another one of Cromwell's cannons from mid 1600's.