Vacation Guide

Ireland golf vacation guide : To do and see

WATERFORD

Celtworld – situated in Tramore, Celtworld is a unique visitor attraction, which uses the latest in audiovisual projection and special effects to enable the visitor to experience the excitement of Celtic mythology and ancient legends.

Dungarvan Town – situated 30 miles southwest of Waterford City, this market town dates back to the Stone Age. Archaeologists discovered a collection of bones (dating back some 40,000 years) belonging to mammoth elephants in a local cave in the late 19th century. The town developed around a monastery in the 7th century, while one of its most notable building is the 12th century Dungarvan Castle, which today is the administrative centre of Waterford County Council.

Dunmore East – this attractive fishing village has managed to retain its traditions and boasts a number of beautiful thatched cottages. The Doric Lighthouse, dating back to 1823, combines with the natural splendour of the area to provide great vistas across the water to Hook Head.

Granary – located in the city of Waterford, this one-hour multimedia exhibition recounts the history of Waterford from its Viking foundations to the 19th century. The exhibition uses modern interpretative techniques to bring the colourful history of the city and county to life.

Great Newtown Head – situated in Tramore on the summit of Great Newtown Head, a massive iron replica of an 18th century sailor, stands with his arm jutting out towards the sea as a warning to passing ships. Numerous ships and hundreds of people were lost around this area, prompting the erection of the landmark as a warning to passing ships of the dangers of the coastline.

Lismore Heritage Centre – situated in Lismore, this former courthouse has become the Lismore Heritage Centre, where area’s Celtic origins are on view in the historical display room. The story of the "Book of Lismore" and the Lismore Crozier is told in an impressive audiovisual presentation.

Reginald’s Tower – located in the Waterford City, this is Waterford’s most distinctive building. Originally the site of a wooden Viking fortification, the Normans constructed a circular tower here in the 13th century, with a second phase in the 15th century bringing it up to today’s dimensions. Today, the building houses the Waterford Civic Museum, with an impressive range of artifacts related to the tower and its history.

Temple Disert – situated in Ardmore, southwestern Waterford is this earlyhermitage church and one of the best-preserved round towers in the country. Some 154 members of the Confederate army sought refuge here in 1642 before surrendering to the English forces. Some 117 of them were hanged on the spot.

The French Church – located in Waterford City, this building, also known as Friars Church, was built in 1240 as a monastery for the Franciscan order. During the suppression of Irish monasteries by Henry VIII, the monastery was converted into a hospital in 1545, a function it served for many centuries. It eventually fell into ruin in the 18th century, while some original remnants are still standing.

Waterford City Hall – inside this impressive building, built in 1788, hangs the sword of local man, Thomas Francis Meagher, who fought as general during the American Civil War. Having survived this brutal conflict, Meagher later died when he fell overboard from a steam boat on the Missouri River.

Waterford Crystal Visitors Centre – situated on the outskirts of Waterford City, the handcrafted cut class of Waterford Crystal has become a global institution, with pieces adorning mantelpieces and coffee tables around the world. The centre, which features the world’s largest display of Waterford Crystal, explains the evolution of glassmaking and traces the history of the business since 1783, while visitors can also watch the skilled cutters and blowers in action.