WATERFORD

WATERFORD Travelled to Waterford via the back lanes to visit Bennettsbridge (not much there bar the bridge) and Jerpoint Abbey. This Abbey was founded in c1160 and was the centre of a town and quite a thriving community in medieval times however it had fallen into ruin by the 17th century. It must have been quite remarkable in its day and was certainly well worth the stopping. We located out hotel very easily in Waterford, unloaded and set off to explore the town on foot. Its not a particularly pretty town and has quite a lot of traffic moving through its streets. Thankfully, like all these old towns, much of the centre was pedestrian only. Keen to learn a bit more we ventured into the Waterford Museum of Treasures that tells the story of the town from its Viking foundations to the present. Waterford is the oldest city in Ireland established in 914AD and is also older than all of the Northern European capitals with the exception of London and Paris (see, we have learnt something). The Waterford Crystal Factory was interesting (Gail told me it was) but its disappointing that its all now made in Germany and the Czech Republic, not here anymore.
 * [[image:Waterford.jpg caption="Bennettsbridge"]] || [[image:Waterford3.jpg align="center" caption="Gravestone Bennettsbridge"]] ||
 * [[image:Waterford4.jpg caption="inside the Abbey"]] || [[image:Waterford5.jpg caption="the Abbey courtyard area"]] ||
 * [[image:Waterford6.jpg]] || [[image:Waterford7.jpg]] ||
 * [[image:Waterford2.jpg align="center" caption="Sculptures carved into the columns"]] || [[image:waterford11.jpg align="center" caption="tombs inside the Abbey Cloister"]] ||

Continue on the road to Schull
 * [[image:Waterford8.jpg caption="Shopping mall Waterford"]] || [[image:Waterford9.jpg caption="Reginald's Tower built 1185 it is the oldest civic urban structure in Ireland"]] ||
 * [[image:waterford12.jpg caption="Some party guys on a rooftop"]] || [[image:Waterford10.jpg caption="Waterford Crystal"]] ||