The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-10-19

waterford today is one Of the quaint
est old cities in Ireland, aside from it's
historic interest, says John o'Callag-
han 4n 4 recent letter to the Boston
Globe,
1t is recorded that Waterford was
founded as early as the year 156, al
though its early Importance is said to
date. from the year s53, when the
Danes founded a colony there under
their leader, a, kinsman Of sitric, who
was defeated with his army by King
Brian Boru at the battle of clontarf on
Good Friday, 1914. The present name
Of Waterford is said to be corruption
Of the Danish words "vader Fiord," the
'Ford Of the Father" It's early Celtic
name had been "Cuan-na- Grioth," or
Haven OF the Sum-" and it was later
still called "Gleann- ma Gleodh,'' or
valley o. Lamentation." SO named
iron, the tremendous conflicts between
the Irish ana the Danes. Old Irish
authors, too, frequently spoke Of it as
the Port Of the Thigh" from the Pc
sultarity Of its shape. :, -.
The Historic ReginaId's. Tower. I
One Of the most curious sights OF the
old city today Is known as Reginald's
tower fine old remnant of Danish
architecture standing near the lower end
Of the quay or wharf: In Waterford; 1t
is named after it's founder, the son Of
Imar. and it's history is told in an in
scription on q tablet over the entrance,
which reads: "In the year 1909 this
tower was erected by Reginald the
Dane; in 1171 was held as fortress by
stronsbow, earl Of Pembroke; in 1853
by statute Of Edward w., a mint was
established here; in 1919 1t was re-
edited in its original form and appro-
priated to the police establishment by
the corporate body Of the city Of
Waterford" While 1t has been almost
completely rebuilt, it stands on the
site Of the original tower, and for sew
eral years has been used az 4 prison
by the city.
It is a strange coincidence that the
feast Of st. Bartholomew was the day
on which Strongbow landed and coun-
tenanced the massacre Of the inhabi-
tants Of Waterford. The carnage was
carried out under the direction of LIE
Gros, and in st. Lawrence OToole's
address to the Irish Princes, as given
in poetry by Sir Charles Gavan Duffy,
the incident is recorded in the lines:
Tell me not Of leagues and treaties,
Treaties sealed in faith as true.
As Black Raymond's, on the bloody
Feast Of st. Bartholomew.
The city's first British charter was
granted by King John who, in 1910.
lived there for several months. The
history Of Waterford from that time is
crowded with accounts of sieges and
battles, wars, and attacks by sea and
tduu, CAuooQ IN 8FoAL measure Oy lLS
proximity to England. It was visited
by Richard l., who remained there nine
months while assaueing his grief for
the death Of Queen Anne. In 1892 it
withstood the siege Of Perkin Warheck
for eleven days. waterford in the War
Of the Revolution adhered to King
James and 1t was the port most used
by the Confederates. There. too. many
Of their proclamations were printed.
It was from Waterford that James II.
sailed for France in 1890 after the els
lstrous battle Of the Boyne. Three.
weeks later, however, it was compelled
to surrender to the williamite army
under Kirk.
The Cathedral and ito Historic Site.
The present episcopal cathedral in
waterford occupies the site Of the old
Danish Cathedral, the existence of
which. together with that of Christ
Church in Dublin. bears ample testi-