Ireland's oldest city celebrates 1,111 years in 2025
Marking Waterford's 1,111th birthday, the campaign promises a deep and engaging journey into the city's rich heritage, vibrant culture, thriving food scene, scenic coastline, and outdoor adventures, say organisers.
The campaign encourages visitors to not just see Waterford, but to truly dig into its stories, its spirit, and its significance in shaping the Ireland we know today.
'Waterford is the birthplace of urban Ireland,' said Cllr Jason Murphy, Mayor of Waterford City and County. 'At 1,111 years old, our city stands proudly as the oldest in the country. This campaign gives us an incredible opportunity to celebrate our past while welcoming the world to experience our present and our future.'
To help visitors tailor their trips, Visit Waterford has curated six unique 'Dig In' itineraries, each of them are themed and guides visitors through some of the region's most captivating locations.
From the charming coastal villages of Dunmore East, Ardmore, and its own Gaeltacht An Rinn, to the iconic destinations of Tramore, Lismore, and Dungarvan, each itinerary offers a different slice of Waterford's character.
Naturally, the historic city of Waterford itself takes centre stage, with walking tours, exhibitions, and cultural experiences that bring over a millennium of stories to life. Dig into the Past, Dig into Nature, Dig into Luxury, Dig into Flavour, Dig into Culture, and Dig into Comfort, can all be explored on visitwaterford.com
Chair of Visit Waterford, Clare Barrett, emphasised the city's exceptional legacy. 'Waterford is where Ireland truly began, the heart of our urban story. Dig Into Waterford isn't just a call to visit, it's an invitation to uncover the layers of our heritage, from the Vikings to the Victorians, and everything in between. We aim to inspire curiosity, pride, and discovery.'
As part of the 2025 celebrations, Visit Waterford has also launched a brand-new podcast series titled 'Digging into Waterford', with the first episode focusing on 'Ritual landscapes and Viking legacies' is now available on Spotify.
The podcast explores pivotal moments and lesser-known tales from Waterford's long and fascinating history. Featuring interviews with local historians, archaeologists, artists, and community figures, the podcast offers an immersive way for listeners to connect with Waterford, whether from afar or as a guide during their visit.
'We wanted to create something that could deepen people's understanding of Waterford, even before they arrive,' said Clare Barrett. 'The podcast is both a tribute to our past and a tool for our future, helping new audiences experience the unique soul of our city and county.'
Learn more
In a further celebration of local culture and community, Visit Waterford is also putting out a call for folklore submissions from the public. Locals are encouraged to share their favourite stories, be they myths, legends, personal memories, but mostly the drive is for local curiosities, for inclusion in the Waterford Folklore Heritage Ebook, to be released later in the year.
'We are delighted to announce this community-driven initiative,' added Ms Barrett. 'Waterford's history doesn't just live in books and museums - it lives in the voices of its people. This is a chance to preserve those voices and local history stories for generations to come.'
Submissions for the folklore project will be accepted throughout the summer, with the final collection to be unveiled in September and published before the end of 2025.
Full travel information, downloadable itineraries, the events guide, and podcast access are now available at visitwaterford.com and through Visit Waterford's social media channels @visitwaterford.
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