Ireland/Irish > Black's guide to Killarney and the south of Ireland

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DUBLIN TO CORK.
COUNTY WATERFORD is situated south of the counties
of Tipperary and Kilkenny, bounded on the west by the County
Cork, and on the south by St. George’s Channel. The County
is generally mountainous, crossed as it is by Knockmeledon,
Cummeragh, Monevolagh, and other hill-ranges, but toward the
east its surface is low and marshy. The area amounts to
461,553 acres, of which three-fourths are arable, and 24,000
acres laid out in plantations. In 1851, the population was
138,754 (excluding the city), which gives an average of about
three acres to each inhabitant, being nearly the average for
Ireland.
Waterford City, situated on the Suir, here crossed by a
wooden bridge of 39 arches, was anciently known by the name
of Cuanna-Frioth, or the Haven of the Sun. It was after¬
wards called Gleann-na-Gleodh, or Valley of Lamentation,
from the tremendous conflicts between the Irish and the
Danes. By old Irish authors it is frequently named, from its
shape, the Part of the Thigh. It was founded in 155, and
became a considerable town under Sitric in 853. On the
lower end of the quay is a Danish tower, built in 1003, known
as Reginald’s Tower, from the founder Reginald, son of Imar.
In 1171, when Strongbow and Raymond le Gros took Water¬
ford, it was inhabited by Danes, who, with the exception of the
Prince of the Danes and a few more, were put to death. It
was here that Earl Strongbow was married to Eva, daughter
of the King of Leinster, and here too that Henry II. first landed
in Ireland to take possession of the country which had been
granted to him by the bull of Pope Adrian. There is a good
quay on the Suir at Waterford. The city has a population of
26,667, and returns two members to Parliament.
Steamers sail to and from Liverpool (229 miles) twice a week; fares 15s. and
7s. fid. Between Waterford and Bristol twice a week; fares 25s. and 7s. fid.;
return tickets 32s. fid. Between Waterford and Milford Haven three times a
week, in connection with express trains on the Great Western and South Wales
Railways. This latter is a new and shorter route between London and the south
of Ireland.
Hotels.—Uommin’s Commercial and Family, on the Quay. Charges—Bed
Is. fid., breakfast Is. 8d., lunch Is., dinner 2s. to 2s. fid., tea Is. fid, supper Is.
to Is. fid., attendance Is., private sitting-room 2s. fid., one-horse cars fid. per
mile, two-horse cars Is. per mite. Dolbyn’s, Commercial Buildings—Bed Is. fid.,
breakfast Is. fid., lunch Is., dinner 2s., tea Is. 4d., supper Is., attendance Is.,