Waterford City lies on the River Suir, at the head of Waterford Harbour and it is one of the chief seaports of Ireland and the headquarters of an extensive export trade in meat, dairy and agricultural produce. Waterford Crystal is the city’s most famous export which has become renowned throughout the world and it’s visitors centre plays host to over 300,000 people a year. Today Waterford is the capital of the South East Region with a population of approximately 50,000 and it proudly remains one of Ireland’s major cultural, historical, commercial, retail, medical and educational centres of excellence.
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The city was founded almost 1200 years ago in 840 AD when it was occupied by the Danes as a walled city and called Vader Fjord, although there had been settlements in the area since the early part of the second century. In the 12th century it was seized by the Normans and it received its charter of incorporation in 1206. It survived the initial Cromwellian invasion but later fell to General Ireton. Among the landmarks are Reginald’s Tower which was built in 1003; Blackfriar’s Priory (1226); and the Protestant and Roman Catholic cathedrals, both dating from the 18th century.