BY
JANET STEINBERG
JANET STEINBERG
Forty
shades of green. I can think of no better way to describe Ireland, The
Emerald Isle.
shades of green. I can think of no better way to describe Ireland, The
Emerald Isle.
 |
|
IRELAND
IS FORTY SHADES OF GREEN |
Dunmore East, a small fishing village
located in County Waterford, some 15 miles south of Waterford. Dunmore
East, with its twisting lanes and old houses, sits on the entrance to the River
Suir estuary. A bagpiper and a sign reading “Cead Mile
Failte! One Hundred Thousand Welcomes” was our greeting as we
disembarked from our cruise ship.
located in County Waterford, some 15 miles south of Waterford. Dunmore
East, with its twisting lanes and old houses, sits on the entrance to the River
Suir estuary. A bagpiper and a sign reading “Cead Mile
Failte! One Hundred Thousand Welcomes” was our greeting as we
disembarked from our cruise ship.
 |
| BAGPIPER’S WELCOME TO DUNMORE EAST |
Dunmore, in the Irish language, means ‘Big Fort’.
In the center of Dunmore East is an Anglo-Norman castle that was erected in the
12th Century. Between 1814 and the late 1820’s the focus of the seaside
village shifted to the harbor where mail for Waterford came to Dunmore from
Wales. Many of the beautiful thatched houses, dropping downhill along the
waterfront, date from this period. Along the quayside, many small fishing
boats are tied up and fishermen can be seen working on their boats and nets.
In the center of Dunmore East is an Anglo-Norman castle that was erected in the
12th Century. Between 1814 and the late 1820’s the focus of the seaside
village shifted to the harbor where mail for Waterford came to Dunmore from
Wales. Many of the beautiful thatched houses, dropping downhill along the
waterfront, date from this period. Along the quayside, many small fishing
boats are tied up and fishermen can be seen working on their boats and nets.
 |
| A THATCHED HOUSE IN DUNMORE EAST |
The Haven Hotel was one of the big houses, where
wealthy merchant families and navy officers made their homes during the British
occupation. The Sunday brunch buffet, with fresh Atlantic fish and crisp
Irish cabbage, was irresistible. Restaurants serving freshly caught fish
are one of the main attractions in Dunmore East.
wealthy merchant families and navy officers made their homes during the British
occupation. The Sunday brunch buffet, with fresh Atlantic fish and crisp
Irish cabbage, was irresistible. Restaurants serving freshly caught fish
are one of the main attractions in Dunmore East.
 |
| DOWNTOWN DUNMORE EAST |
From Dunmore East it was only a short drive to Waterford.
The city of Waterford is a bustling maritime city with an historic Viking
Heart. Vikings, as well as other eager invaders who followed them, left their
mark in the history and mystery of the city. The city’s name comes from
the Norse word ‘Vadrefjord’. Reginald’s Tower, dating from 1003, houses a
city museum and the charter roll of Richard II.
The city of Waterford is a bustling maritime city with an historic Viking
Heart. Vikings, as well as other eager invaders who followed them, left their
mark in the history and mystery of the city. The city’s name comes from
the Norse word ‘Vadrefjord’. Reginald’s Tower, dating from 1003, houses a
city museum and the charter roll of Richard II.
What would a trip to Waterford (also known as Crystal
City) be without paying a visit to the Waterford Crystal Factory?
For two centuries, the city of Waterford has produced some of the world’s
finest crystal. In 1783, George and William Penrose founded the Waterford
Glass House, promising to make crystal in “as fine a quality as any in
Europe…”.
City) be without paying a visit to the Waterford Crystal Factory?
For two centuries, the city of Waterford has produced some of the world’s
finest crystal. In 1783, George and William Penrose founded the Waterford
Glass House, promising to make crystal in “as fine a quality as any in
Europe…”.
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| WATERFORD CRYSTAL FACTORY |
A tour of the facility features the world’s largest
display of Waterford crystal and gift items that range in price from two to six
figures. You can purchase a crystal ring holder for approximately $25, a
crystal grandfather clock for $75,000 or an 11-cluster crystal chandelier for
$175,000.
display of Waterford crystal and gift items that range in price from two to six
figures. You can purchase a crystal ring holder for approximately $25, a
crystal grandfather clock for $75,000 or an 11-cluster crystal chandelier for
$175,000.
Of greatest interest is a scaled-down replica of the
Millennium Ball produced for the 1999-2000 New Years Millennium Celebration on
Times Square. It took forty craftsmen six months to produce the 2-ton,
504-panel Millennium Ball that was the largest project ever undertaken by
Waterford.
Millennium Ball produced for the 1999-2000 New Years Millennium Celebration on
Times Square. It took forty craftsmen six months to produce the 2-ton,
504-panel Millennium Ball that was the largest project ever undertaken by
Waterford.
 |
GLASSBLOWER AT WORK IN WATERFORD FACTORY
|
Irish coffee never tasted better than it did at the pub
in Dooley’s Hotel on the Waterford Quay. But now, I am going to let you
in on a little secret I learned at Dooley’s. You can buy your Irish
Coffee already blended and bottled in Ireland under the brand name of Hot
Irishman. All you need to do is add boiling water leaving room for the
cream. Then put some lightly whipped cream on an ice cold spoon, and
float in on top of the hot coffee mix.
in Dooley’s Hotel on the Waterford Quay. But now, I am going to let you
in on a little secret I learned at Dooley’s. You can buy your Irish
Coffee already blended and bottled in Ireland under the brand name of Hot
Irishman. All you need to do is add boiling water leaving room for the
cream. Then put some lightly whipped cream on an ice cold spoon, and
float in on top of the hot coffee mix.
JANET
STEINBERG is an award-winning Travel Writer, International Travel Consultant, and winner of 40
national Travel Writing Awards.