Thursday, August 9 Waterford (Port Lairge)

After breakfast at the Davenport in Dublin, we loaded onto the two mini buses.  Leaving Dublin, we once more drove through the city and then began traveling south through beautiful Irish countryside via Arklow, Enniscorthy, New Ross and Dunganstown.  Thank you, Byron, for such detailed itineraries!

We stopped to see the home of Patrick Kennedy, the great-grandfather of JFK, who left Ireland in 1858.  The home is closed for this year, however, so we couldn't go inside.

At Ballyhack we boarded a ferry for the short crossing of the Bay of Waterford to the village of Passage East.  Before arriving at our hotel we visited the Waterford Crystal manufacturing plant and had a tour.  I have lots of great pictures of this - somewhere!  I'll add them later if possible.

Waterford is the oldest city in Ireland and was larger and in the 1100's more important than Dublin.  Founded by the Vikings, it was one of Ireland's major ports.

We checked into the Granville Hotel, located in the center of town along the River Suir.  Larry and I then took off to explore the shopping mall and visit Reginald's Tower.  Built in 1003, it is considered to be the oldest building in Ireland.

Dinner that night was at the Granville Hotel.