Reginald's Tower

On August 25th 1170 Richard de Clare, Earl of Pembroke nicknamed "Strongbow" the Anglo-Norman knight-adventurer married Aoife (Eva) daughter of the wicked King of Leinster Dermot MacMorrough.

Tradition tells that his marriage took place in Regionald's, overlooking the Suir which even still ran red with the blood of the defenders of Waterford and reflected the smoking and smouldering ruins of the city.


Strongbow's reign was brief. In the next year 1171 King Henry 11 came himself over to Ireland to check to check the growing insolence of Dermod and his son-in-law and to receive the submission of the Irish chiefs in person. He landed at Crook on October 18th and proceeded to Waterford on his way to Cashel.

Some years later on April 1st 1185 Henry 11's son John then Earl of Morton landed at the city by the Suir and there established a mint in Reginald tower which was hence forth named Dundory or (the fort of god) John now King of England landed again at Waterford in June. On the 25th of August on the year following he departed from the City of Waterford having repaired and extended the walls and room's.

Waterford was burned to the ground in 1252 but rose triumphantly from its ashes. Religious foundations flourished. Richard 11 landed at Waterford in 1394 and again in 1399. The importance of the city by the Suir a port in close proximity to England connected it more or less with every important event during the English connection.

Waterford's motto "Urbs Intacta Manet Waterfordia," was granted to it by Henry V11 in a letter of thanks to the citizens for their refusal to acknowledge either of the Pretenders Porkin Warbeck or Lambert Simnel (both of whom were wildly accepted as sovereigns throughout Ireland), as well as for the bravery of the city during twelve days of siege at the hands of the former together with the Great Earl of Kildare (Garret Mor), for Perkin's cause in 1527. The following year the King sent a Sword and Cap of Maintenance, to be put before the mayor, which are still preserved.

Cromwell besieged Waterford in 1649 but was obliged to retire. The city however surrendered to Ireton the next year.
Waterford took on the Stuart cause of the Revolution. James the II fled to Waterford. Waterford surrendered to William of Orange and William embarked from Waterford to England on September 5th, 1690.

The subsequent royal visits to Waterford were made under happier circumstances. Queen Victoria entered Waterford Harbour in her yacht on August 4th 1849 and anchored there for a night. She says in her journal: "We entered Waterford Harbour at twenty minutes to four-o clock. The Harbour is rocky on the right as one enters and very flat to the left. As one proceeds the land rises on either side."
It is still standing and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Waterford today. It is still opposite the River Suir and looks very beautiful from its scene of view.

Opposite Reginald's Tower Waterford celebrates its most illustrious citizens in the magnificent Vincent Wallace Memorial for the people and John Roberts the wellknown architect.

Nearby is the memorial to gallant seafaring men which sailed on the "Formby"