REGINALD'S TOWER
Waterford City, County Waterford

Reginald's Tower is reputed to be the oldest civic building in Ireland and has played a fundamental role in the country's history.

There was most certainly another tower or structure on this site that was most probably called Dundory, which was a Viking fortification. The current tower was allegedly build by Reginald the Viking in 1003. This tower formed the apex of a trainagular Viking settlement and was strategically located at the juncture of two rivers, the Suir River to the north and St. John's River to the southeast. St. John's River has since been reclaimed and turned into one of the main roads around the city called The Mall. The Mall wraps around the tower to become Custom House Parade, which runs parallel to the River Suir, located just across the road. However, through the medieval period Reginald's Tower was mostly surrounded by water, which was instrumental in the protection of the River Suir and Waterford Harbour. Nearby in Reginald's Bar you can see arches through which boats passed through down the river. These points were called Sallyports and this is one of several up and down the river.

At it's thickest point, the base, the walls are ten feet thick and is said to be the first Irish building to use mortar, a concoction consisting of mud, lime, fur and blood. In its lifetime, Reginald's Tower has been used as a fortress, a mint, an arsenal and a prison.

In 1170, the Anglo-Normans attacked the city and captures the ruler, called Ragnall MacGillemaire. He was held prisoner in the tower, and it's from him that the tower gets its name.

The tower continued to play prominantly in Irish history. As a result of a long time feud between Dermot MacMurrough, King of Leinster, and Tiernan O'Rourke, King of Briefne, MacMurrough appealed to King Henry II of England for help. In 1169, Richard de Clare, also known as Strongbow, was sent into Ireland with troops to help subdue O'Rourke once and for all. Successful, MacMurrough gave the hand of his daughter, Aoife, in marriage to de Clare. While the famous painting by Daniel Maclise, the Marriage of Strongbow, shows the marriage taking place at the end of a big battle, with the ruins of a tower behind them, the marriage actually took place in Reginald's Tower. Their marriage changed the course of history for both Ireland and England. Their son in law was undefeatable and became known as the Greatest Knight. And for Ireland, de Clare's position in Ireland made it easy for Henry II to send in more troops, thus beginning eight hundred years of English oppression in Ireland.

In 1210, King John came to Ireland and visited the tower. He ordered new coins, which were struck in the tower.

The next kingly visit included Richard II, King of England and Wales, who came to Ireland in 1394 and again in 1399. When he returned to England in 1399, he was captured by Henry VI and forced to abdicate.

By 1463, the Irish Parliament had established a mint in the tower.

In 1465, cannons in the tower were successful in turning away the forces of the pretender to the throne of Henry VII, Perkin Warbeck. Traditional belief is that Perkin claimed to be Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York and the younger sone of King Edward IV of England. In reality, he was most likely the son of a French official called John de Warbecque and Katherine de Faro.

It was around this time that Waterford adopted its city motto: "Urbs Intacta Manet" - "Waterford remains the unconquered city".

Following the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, King James II of England is alleged to have climbed to the top of Reginald's Tower to have a final look at his long kingdom before being exiled to France.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the tower was used to store weapons and amunition. In the early 19th cenury, the tower was used as a prison. In the late 19th cenutry, the tower was the home to the Chief Constable of Waterford.

The tower first opened to the public in the 1950s and has recently been restored to accommodate modern day tourists. Visitors will be able to view exhibits throughout the tower as well as take in the audio-visual theater to learn more about the tower and Waterford City history. Guided tours available, lasting about 45 minutes.

~ Pay attraction
~ Parking available nearby
~ Limited access, lower level