We spent the day getting infused with the history and "claim to fame" of the town of Waterford. Waterford Crystal was the starting point. The town has long been famous for the cut crystal creations that originated here. But the financial crisis of 2008 put the Waterford Crystal company out of business. Fortunately it has since been resurrected, but on a smaller scale, so that cut crystal creations are still emerging from Waterford. We got an up close look at the process during a tour of the small production facility right in the heart of the town. I would rate the tour highly as it is technically very interesting.

Waterford claims to be the "oldest city in Ireland" with its roots dating back to around 900AD when a Viking settlement was established on a triangular shaped island at the junction of the Suir and Johns rivers. Over the intervening years the water around this island has been filled joining it to the mainland, but the area is still called the Viking triangle. The "triangle" has been fortified in one manner or another since those early viking days. But in more modern times much of the fortification has been demolished. One of the main tourist attractions of the city is a remnant of those older fortifications. Reginald's tower originally built in 1003, of timber, by Reginald (a viking) was replaced by the current stone tower sometime in the 13th century.

One interesting story we heard throughout our wanderings in Waterford was related to 9 famous Irishmen. In 1848 as a result of what is called the The Young Irish Disordersa group of 9 Irishmen were arrested and sentenced to death, sentences that were later commuted to transportation. The thrust of this story is that in 1878 Queen Victoria was informed and surprised by what (supposedly) became of those men and what they achieved.

  • Thomas Francis Meagher: Governor of Montana

  • Terrance McManus: Brigadier General, U.S. Army

  • Patrick Donahue: Brigadier General U.S. Army

  • Morris Leyne: Attorney General of Australia

  • Michael Ireland: Successor to Michael Ireland

  • Richard O’Gorman: Gov. General Newfoundland

  • Thomas D’Archy McGee: Member of Parliament, Montreal, Minister of Agriculture and President of Council Dominion of Canada.

  • John Mitchell: Prominent New York Politician. Father of John Purroy Mitchell, Mayor of New York at the outbreak of World War I.

While an interesting story there seems little doubt that this story is more legend than truth.

However like all good legends there is a kernel of fact at its heart. In this case the kernel is the life of Thomas Francis Meagher

Meagher was transported to Tasmania in 1851, escapes and moves to America, fights for the Union side in the civil war, eventually establishing the Irish Brigade and becomes a Brigadier General in the Union forces. After the war he becomes Acting Governor of Montana and eventually dies by falling into the Missouri River under questionable circumstances.

In addition to the above Meagher also, in 1848, devised the tri-color flag that is the current national flag of the Republic of Ireland.