[1] Historically the site of a Viking settlement, Waterford's medieval defensive walls and fortifications include the 13th or 14th century Reginald's Tower.

The Waterford Crystal visitor centre was opened, in the city's Viking Quarter, in 2010 and resumed production under new ownership.

He returned in 1170 with Cambro-Norman mercenaries under Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke (known as Strongbow); together they besieged and took the city after a desperate defence.

In the 15th century, Waterford repelled sieges by two pretenders to the English throne: Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck.

This was ended abruptly by Oliver Cromwell, who brought the country back under English rule; his son-in-law Henry Ireton finally took Waterford in 1650 after a two major sieges.

[5][6] In 1690, during the Williamite War, the Jacobite Irish Army was forced to surrender Waterford in the wake of the Battle of the Boyne.

A permanent military presence was established in the city with the completion of the Cavalry Barracks at the end of the 18th century.

[7] In the early 19th century, Waterford City was deemed vulnerable and the British government erected three Martello towers on the Hook Peninsula to reinforce the existing Fort at Duncannon.

The city was represented in the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1891 to 1918 by John Redmond MP, leader (from January 1900) of the Irish Parliamentary Party.

A mayor is elected by the councillors from the three electoral areas of the Metropolitan District of Waterford every year, and there is no limit to the number of terms an individual may serve.

[10] The city is situated at the head of Waterford Harbour (Loch Dá Chaoch or Cuan Phort Láirge).

The place downriver from Waterford where the Nore and the Barrow join the River Suir is known in Irish as Cumar na dTrí Uisce ("The confluence of the three waters").

The owners of the Neptune Shipyard, the Malcomson family, built and operated the largest fleet of iron steamers in the world between the mid-1850s and the late 1860s, including five trans-Atlantic passenger liners.

The warmest months of the year are June, July and August with average daytime temperatures of around 17 – 22 degrees.

In January 2005 the company staged "Awakening", a production which marked the opening of the Cork 2005 European Capital of Culture program.

Originally founded as the Waterford Art Museum in 1939, the collection now comprises over 500 works of art including works by: Paul Henry, Jack B. Yeats, Mainie Jellett, Louis Le Brocquy, Letitia Hamilton, Dermod O’Brien, Evie Hone, Mary Swanzy, Charles Lamb, Hilda Roberts, Seán Keating, and George Russell (aka.

[citation needed] The city of Waterford consists of several cultural quarters, the oldest of which is known as Viking Triangle.

This is the part of the city surrounded by the original tenth-century fortifications and is triangular in shape, with its apex at Reginald's Tower.

Though once the site of a thriving Viking settlement, the city centre subsequently shifted to the west, and it is now a quieter area with narrow streets, medieval architecture, and civic spaces.

Near Reginald's Tower is the William Vincent Wallace Plaza, a monument and amenity built around the time of the millennium that commemorates the Waterford-born composer.

[citation needed] John Roberts Square is a pedestrianised area that is one of the focal points of Waterford's modern-day commercial centre.

Today it has been converted into a green, civic space, but the Bull Post, where livestock was once bought and sold, still stands as a remnant of the hill's past.

[citation needed] The Mall is a Georgian thoroughfare, built by the Wide Streets Commission to extend the city southwards.

[citation needed] Investment in the mid-2010s saw a portion of the area pedestrianised and the installation of a large outdoor roofing section.

Glass, or crystal, was manufactured in the city from 1783 until early 2009 when the factory there was shut down after the receivership of Waterford Wedgwood plc.

[citation needed] The pub's structure includes one of the original city walls, almost 1,000 years old, which can be viewed in the lounge area of the building.

[citation needed] The Irish economic recession from 2008 onwards has had a major negative impact on Waterford's economy.

[62][63] The line between Waterford and Rosslare Harbour ceased passenger services in 2010 and was replaced by Bus Éireann route 370.

Mount Sion Secondary and Primary School, located at Barrack Street, were founded by Edmund Ignatius Rice.

Notable Waterford footballers include Davy Walsh, Paddy Coad, Jim Beglin, Alfie Hale, Eddie Nolan, John O'Shea and Daryl Murphy.