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Osprey Viking Cruises
Waterford, South East Ireland, Ireland, Europe
$47.33
This is an experience gift voucher. The recipient will book the experience after
they redeem the gift voucher.
Overview
Waterford is Ireland’s Oldest City and the estuary played a pivotal role in it. It was the estuary that acted as a gateway for the early Viking settlers. Norman and Cromwellian conquests also feature strongly in local history as do events from both World Wars. The Port of Waterford was a significant international port for many years and there is a wealth of history to be discovered. The river and estuary are also vibrant bio-diversity habitats with a range of flora, fauna and aquatic life.
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Osprey Viking Cruises
Tour guide
Language: English
Human tour guide
- Tea Coffee and Snacks available
Meeting point
Millennium Plaza Custom House Quay Waterford opposite Jordan's pub
Return details
Millennium Plaza Custom House Quay Waterford opposite Jordan's pub
- Built by the Vikings over a thousand years ago Reginald's Tower is Irelands oldest civic building. Standing at the apex of Waterford's Viking Triangle the tower features in many historical episodes from Strongbow to Cromwell, Perkin Warbeck, King James II and many more. (pass by)
- In the 5th century a Welsh monk named Dubhán, seeking to lead a life of solitude, founded a monastery on the site where the old church of Churchtown now stands, 1.6 km north of Hook Head overlooking the entrance into Waterford Harbour. The promontory became known as Rinn Dubhán or Point of Dubhan. By coincidence, the word dubhán or duáin in the Irish language means fishing hook. Following the Anglo-Norman invasion, Dubhán was translated to Hook or Point of Hook. Later it was also known as Hook Head and sometimes just The Hook. The Monks maintained a fire on the peninsula as a beacon to ships. Today it is one of the oldest operational lighthouses in the world. (pass by)
- A monastic settlement existed on Little Island from the 6th to the 8th Century A.D. A carving of a monk’s head from this period adorns the castle entrance to this day. The Vikings arrived in the 9th century and two fortifications were constructed on Island Vryk ‘Dane’s Island’. The Normans came next invading in 1170 and Maurice Fitzgerald, Stongbow’s cousin, was held prisoner on Little Island by the Ossermen during the conquest. He was duly rewarded with much land in the aftermath and thusly the island would become home to the Earls of Kildare for eight centuries. (pass by)
- Mount Congreve Gardens in Ireland’s Ancient East is home to one of “the great gardens of the World”. Home to six generations of Congreves and built in 1760 by the celebrated local architect John Roberts who also designed the two city Cathedrals. The Gardens comprise around seventy acres of woodland, a four acre walled garden and 16 kms of walkways. Overlooking the River Suir, Mount Congreve consists of three thousand different trees & shrubs, two thousand Rhododendrons, six hundred Camellias, three hundred Acer cultivars, six hundred conifers, two hundred and fifty climbers and fifteen hundred herbaceous plants. “When one plants anything, whether it involves five or fifty plants, they should be planted together and not dotted here and there.” Ambrose Congreve. Ambrose inherited the estate in 1963 and transformed the estate into a world class garden. Flora from all over the world were imported delivered directly to his private dock on the Suir. The gardens have won multiple awards. (pass by)
- Grannagh Castle, a large square enclosure with cylindrical towers, stands dramatically on the foreshore or the River Suir. James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormonde, built the castle in the 14th century. Legend has it that the wife of the 8th Earl was a witch. One day looking downriver from the castle window she saw her greatest foe (also a witch) approaching so she conjured a storm to deter her rival, in response the other witch caused horns to grow from Margaret’s head, she therefore could not withdraw from the from the window. Strange noises are heard from the ruins during stormy weather. The Butlers lost the castle to Cromwell in 1649. (pass by)
If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met,
you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
How it works?
01
—
You choose from 10,000+ experience gifts
02
—
We deliver the eVoucher or the Physical box to the recipient
03
—
Recipient books the experience and creates unforgettable memories!
Osprey Viking Cruises
Waterford, South East Ireland, Ireland, Europe
$47.33
This is an experience gift voucher. The recipient will book the experience after
they redeem the gift voucher.
How it works?
01
—
You choose from 10,000+ experience gifts
02
—
We deliver the eVoucher or the Physical box to the recipient
03
—
Recipient books the experience and creates unforgettable memories!