Reginald’s Tower — Attraction in Waterford

Reginald’s tower in Waterford, Munster, is a very interesting Anglo-Norman site in many different ways: it sits on the grounds of an old Viking fort, it was a mint under King John. It was part of a defensive wall that at one time, circled the city. The tower was used to be an armoury holding weapons, gunpowder and cannons and was once a prison as well in the 19th century. It still is in use 800 years later as a museum.

You climb the tight, winding stairs, (they are very tight and steep for people with mobility issues), and a small, iron bar to hold on too. This was a defensive measure, as armed attackers couldn’t fight up the stairs, being mostly right handed and soldiers at the top had an easy time defending. There are two levels and two sets of stairs. At the top, there is a museum and look out from the windows.

Not a large museum, but interesting. There are lots of sights to see in the ‘Viking Triangle’ of the city. With a Viking longship, huge tree carvings, an old church, and the original Viking fortifications that...

Interesting if you are a history buff. Originally intended as a defensive building, the tower has served many roles over the centuries, including a royal keep, a military warehouse, mint, prison and now a museum.

To view all the exhibits, you have to climb a spiral staircase of 56 stone steps. I suggest taking your time and climb all the way to the very top first, and then work your way down. Take it slow and watch your every step. The steps are known as stumble steps which were deliberately designed to be of different heights and widths, making them difficult for attackers to climb. Also, the spiral staircase is orientated to the right, which made it impossible for right-handed attackers to properly swing their swords.

Some exhibits on display include gaming pieces and game board, a dog collar, a Viking warrior’s sword, a decorative weight, ships nails, silver ingots, Byzantine coins, and a cannon ball lodged in the external wall from Oliver Cromwell’s successful siege in 1650.

Well worth the price...

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Incredible place where history feels alive 🏰✨

Reginald’s Tower was one of the highlights of my time in Waterford. Knowing this was the exact spot where the Vikings founded Ireland’s first city made it feel so special. The name Waterford comes from the old Norse word Veðrafjǫrðr(meaning something like windy fjord) 🌊⚔️.Standing there, I truly felt like I was in the middle of that history.

The tower is small but powerful. It’s the oldest civic building in Ireland 🇮🇪 and has been everything from a Viking stronghold to a Norman fort, a mint, a prison, and more. You can still see the original stonework, and touching those ancient walls gave me a strange but amazing feeling — like I was connected to the people who stood there centuries ago 🪨🕰️. Deffo, I will go back to take more pictures 😆...