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| County Waterford |
Tourist brochures often refer to the Waterford area as the "Sunny South-East", because it is supposed to be sunnier than the rest of Ireland. My two first journeys through County Waterford didn’t live up to this advertisement so before I planned my third visit I made sure to check the weather forecast. Some examples in images and in text. |
| 1. Disembark in Passage East... [   ] It is not compulsory to go through the town of Waterford to reach the county that has the same name. You can also take a ferry from Ballyhack (Co. Wexford). In 5/10 minutes, you'll arrive in the village of Passage East. The crossing costs around 8€ but all things considered, this will save you quite a lot of time spent driving. A few minutes will be enough to visit the village. |
| 2. Go to Dunmore East... [  ] At the first chance of a sunny day, you'll see all the beaches in Ireland being invaded by Irish people, willing to get a tan... even if, eventually, a lot of them will return home looking like lobsters... The seaside resort of Dunmore East, located in the South-East of County Waterford has got a very nice coast (see photo) and a beautiful beach. The surrounding countryside looks a bit like Brittany's Pink Granite Coast. |
| 3. Get a tan in Tramore... [ ] The seaside resort of Tramore has also a huge beach (see photo), which was far from empty when I arrived there midweek in June 2010... Tramore is very popular thanks to its casinos, its money machines and its “Fish & Chips”. |
| 4. Visit Dungarvan Castle... [  ]
The castle, which belonged to the Irish Heritage sites, consists of a polygonal shell keep with an enclosing curtain wall, a corner tower and a gate tower. The shell keep is the earliest structure, dating from the 12th century. Shell keeps are common in England, but very rare in Ireland. Inside the curtain wall is a two storey military barracks, which dates from the first half of the 18th century. |
| 5. Have a stroll along the quays of Dungarvan... [ ] After visiting the Castle, you can walk through the town of Dungarvan, discover its small shops and farmer’s market. As in Galway, its quays are a great place to have a stroll. |
 Photo 5. Quays of Dungarvan. |
6. Visit the Reginald's Tower... [ ] Reginald's Tower is a circular tower, part of the Waterford's defences, built in the beginning of the 13th century, with a second phase in the 15th century. It was also used as a mint, prison and military store. It is now part of the Heritage Sites and consequently can be visited. |
7. Walk through the streets of Waterford... |
| 8. Enjoy the Spraoi Street Festival... [ ] Every summer, the town of Waterford organises the Spraoi Street Festival. You'll be able to see national and international musicians and artists. On the right-hand side is a photo of the 2007 festival... which occurred under the pouring rain. |
| 9. Admire and cross the suspension bridge... [ ] The Waterford suspension Bridge, which stands over the River Suir was opened In October 2009. With its 475 m, this is the largest bridge in Ireland. |
| 10. Drive on the R672... [ ] I left County Waterford via the regional road R672, which leads to Clonmel (County Tipperary). In May/June, you'll also be able to see charming sceneries, such as the one below. Note that the Monavullagh Mountains are visible in the background. |
 Photo 10. On the Road R672. |
| County Waterford in pictures | ||
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 Photo 2. Dunmore East. |
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 Photo 3. Tramore Beach. |
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 Photo 4. Dungarvan Castle. |
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 Photo 6. Reginald's Tower. |
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 Photo 7. Quays of Waterford. |
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 Photo 8. Spraoi Street Festival 2007. |
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 Photo 9. Waterford Suspension Bridge. |
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Legend:
Nice; Worth a visit; Well worth visiting
Please note that this grading system is only based on my interests and personal experience as a French expat in Ireland. Feel free to visit the same locations and share your experience 
.
Free or Not Applicable Entrance fee ≤€5 ; €5<Entrance fee≤€10 ; €10<Entrance fee≤€15 and so on...
These price ranges are indicative only to help you plan your holiday budget and are subject to change. Discounts generally apply for families, groups, children, students and seniors citizens.
While the admission to this site is free, a parking fee may apply.
Heritage Site managed by the Office of Public Works. Most OPW sites are free of charge on the first Wednesday of every month during 2011. A Good tip: the Heritage Card entitles you unlimited admission for one year to all OPW sites (around €21).