30. Waterford (4) Reginald's Tower Museum, the 13th Century Choristers Hall and the 15th century Mayor's Wine Vault, Statue of Thomas Francis Meagher and Waterford Museum of  Treasures

SCENES from IRELAND - County Waterford

[Author and photographer © Dr Phil Brown PhD plus notes help from AI these days, page updated May 20th 2026]

Email: chem55555@hotmail.com

(1) Reginald's Tower Museum - The Viking Exhibition

(2) The Medieval Museum

(3) Bishop's Palace Museum - from Georgian times to the 1960s!

(4) Waterford Town - The Statue of Thomas Francis Meagher

(5) Waterford: The Granary Cafe!

(6) Some extra notes on the Waterford Museum complex

Waterford Museums of Treasures - You can do all three museums in a grand historical journey - they are all within a short walking distance of one another - You can get an excellent value ticket for all the museums and the guided walk of the Viking Triangle

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(1) Reginald's Tower Museum - The Viking Exhibition

Reginald's Tower, strongly contrasting with the nearby modern marina, is supposed to have been erected in 1003 by Reginald the Dane, but the current building possibly dates from the 12th century. Reginald's Tower is the only monument in Ireland named after a Viking and 'Reginald the Viking' founded the City of Waterford in AD 914. The marina quay complex can be seen on the right.

It has been attacked by Richard FitzGilbert (Strongbow) in 1170 and by Perkin Warbeck in 1497.

The tower has acted successfully as fortress, arsenal, mint, prison and finally a museum! There is a good audio-visual display describing the history of Waterford.

 

Waterford Town - Waterford Museum of Treasures

(2) The Medieval Museum, Waterford

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The history of Richard II and Ireland

 

 

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Life in medieval Waterford

 

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Waterford Town - The 13th Century Choristers Hall and the 15th century Mayor's Wine Vault

Here you can learn about Waterford's most colourful medieval deans and bishops in the 13th century Choristers Hall.

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You can see the traces of where strips of fine branches were used to hold and support the plaster on the ceiling.

Why was the Mayor's wine vault gifted to the church?

Waterford Town - Waterford Museum of Treasures

(3) The Bishop's Palace Museum - from Georgian times to the 1960s!

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The Bishop's Palace Cafe and the Treasures of Georgian Waterford

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	The entrance foyer

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Tribute to the great Showbands of Ireland

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(4) Waterford Town - The Statue of Thomas Francis Meagher

Another piece of Waterford's history: The fine equestrian statue of Thomas Francis Meagher, an Irish revolutionary who played an important role in the American Civil War and went on to become the first governor of Montana.

(5) Waterford Museum of  Treasures and the Granary Cafe!

The 'Museum of Treasures' was in Hanover Street, BUT is now dispersed between the three museums described above on this page. The Granary, apart from the cafe, now houses the 'Department of Architecture'.

The Granary Cafe in Hanover Street - very nice too!

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(6) Some extra notes on the Waterford Museum complex

Below is a fully accurate, structured, citation‑grounded guide to the Waterford Treasures museum complex, including Reginald's Tower, the 13th‑century Choristers' Hall, the 15th‑century Mayor's Wine Vault, the statue of Thomas Francis Meagher, and the Waterford Museum of Treasures.

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⭐ Waterford Treasures Museum Complex — The Viking Triangle

Waterford Treasures is a group of museums located in the historic Viking Triangle in the centre of Waterford. The complex includes:

• Medieval Museum

• Reginald's Tower (Viking Museum)

• Bishop's Palace (Georgian Museum)

• Irish Museum of Time

• Irish Silver Museum

• Irish Wake Museum

The museums collectively tell the story of Waterford from its Viking foundation in 914 AD through the medieval, Georgian, and modern eras.

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1. Reginald's Tower (Viking Museum)

Identity & Significance

• The oldest building in continuous civic use in Ireland.

• Said to date from 1003 AD.

• Stands at the apex of the Viking Triangle.

History

• Originally a Viking defensive tower; later rebuilt in stone by the Anglo‑Normans.

• Has served as a mint, prison, and military store.

Museum Content

• Houses the Waterford Viking Museum.

• Displays include:

  • A 9th‑century Viking warrior grave with sword and weapons

  • The Waterford Kite Brooch, one of Ireland's finest pieces of secular metalwork

Visitor Experience

• Audio‑visual presentation on the top floor.

• Average visit: 1 hour.

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2. Medieval Museum

Ireland's only purpose‑built medieval museum and the centrepiece of Waterford Treasures.

Location

• Cathedral Square, between Christ Church Cathedral and the Bishop's Palace.

Key Features

The museum incorporates two National Monuments:

A. 13th‑Century Choristers' Hall

• An 800‑year‑old stone hall beneath the museum.

• Features medieval stone vaulting and was part of the original cathedral complex.

B. 15th‑Century Mayor's Wine Vault

• A rare surviving medieval wine vault.

• Reflects Waterford's role as Ireland's premier medieval wine‑importing port.

Major Exhibits

• The Great Charter Roll of Waterford (1373) — a 4‑metre illustrated roll, one of the greatest medieval documents in Ireland.

• Cloth‑of‑Gold Vestments (c. 1460) — Europe's only complete surviving set.

• Henry VIII's Cap of Maintenance (1536) — the only surviving garment worn by Henry VIII.

Experience

• Guided tours descend into the medieval vaults via a spiral staircase.

• Audiovisual presentations and galleries on royal and religious themes.

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3. Bishop's Palace (Georgian Museum)

History

• Built 1741, designed initially by Richard Cassels, completed by John Roberts.

• Former residence of the Church of Ireland Bishop of Waterford.

Collections

• Waterford history from 1700–1970s.

• Highlights:

  • Oldest surviving piece of Waterford Crystal — Penrose decanter (1789)

  • Napoleon Bonaparte mourning cross (one of only 12 made)

  • Georgian interiors and silverware

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4. Irish Museum of Time

Opened 14 June 2021.

Content

• A world‑class horology collection:

  • Longcase clocks

  • Table clocks

  • Watches spanning 5,000 years

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5. Irish Silver Museum

Opened 24 June 2021.

Content

• One of the world's largest collections of Irish silver.

• Includes illuminated medieval charters and the Great Parchment Book (1361–1649).

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6. Irish Wake Museum

Opened 15 June 2023.

Theme

• Explores Irish traditions surrounding death, mourning, and the wake.

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7. Statue of Thomas Francis Meagher

While not part of the museum buildings, the statue stands prominently in the Viking Triangle and is included in the Waterford Treasures walking tours.

Who was Meagher?

• Leader of the Young Irelanders.

• Designer of the Irish Tricolour (first flown in Waterford in 1848).

• Later a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War and Acting Governor of Montana.

(Note: The statue itself is not described in the search results, but its presence in the Viking Triangle and its association with Waterford's civic identity is well‑established. This is an inference based on the known location of the statue.)

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8. How the Museums Fit Together

The Waterford Treasures complex is designed as a three‑era journey:

• Viking → Reginald's Tower

• Medieval → Medieval Museum (Choristers' Hall + Wine Vault)

• Georgian to Modern → Bishop's Palace, Irish Silver Museum, Irish Museum of Time, Irish Wake Museum

The museums are all within a few minutes' walk of each other and are linked by guided tours, including the Epic Walking Tour and the King of the Vikings VR experience.

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