Castles and crystal: The wonders of Waterford, Ireland (video)

November 7, 11:47 AMLA Travel ExaminerJane Lasky

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High on a hill, Lismore Castle is one Ireland's most reverred
Photo: Wikipedia, public domain

By Jane Lasky

One stop on a recent Crystal cruise took me to Waterford. What I expcted was lots of fine crystal, what I found was so much more.

Home to Ireland’s oldest metropolis, Waterford City was First visited by Vikings in 825 AD. Small yet vibrant, this thriving enclave offers a dramatic blend of the ultra-modern (in shopping centers and pedestrianized walkways like John Roberts Square) and the very old (like the medieval Reginald's Tower monument and Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity).

Not far away, smaller County Waterford villages perch on the edge of beautiful bays. One, Lismore, is home to the appropriately named Lismore Castle, the Irish retreat for all the Dukes of Devonshire since the mid 1700s.

This landmark structure was built in 1185 by King John as the namesake castle of the Heritage town. During the 1580s, the grand property was leased to Sir Walter Raleigh, where he enjoyed enormous hallways, awe-inspiring tapestries, and mesmerizing gardens today landscaped with modern sculpture by contemporary artists like Anthony Gormley.

One castle room is set aside simply for the pleasure of playing cards, while another is for billiards. Most impressive is Lismore's banquet hall. Designed by Pugin, the name behind the English House of Commons, this space resembles a miniature of the same, complete with marble fireplace and musicians' gallery.
While poking around Lismore, you'll come to realize that people, do, indeed, live in this castle, whether that be by spotting a half written letter on a desk or seeing an umbrella waiting to be used by a doorway.

One last bit of good news at Lismore: Private groups of up to 23 people can book the whole place when the Duke is not in quarters. So, get your friends together and get to County Waterford for a chance to live like royalty in an authentic Irish castle.

Click HERE for an insider's article on Dublin.

Below: an amazing Waterford chandelier, made of the world's finest crystal; then a video of Waterford City at night