County Waterford

County Waterford Contae Phort Láirge
Location
Statistics
Province:	Munster
County seat:	Waterford
Code:	WD
Area:	1,837 km2 (709 sq mi)
Population (2006)	107,961
Website: www.waterfordcoco.ie

County Waterford (Irish: Contae Phort Láirge) is a county in the province of Munster on the south coast of Ireland. It is the smallest county in Munster in terms of both area and population. Administratively, the city of Waterford is a county-level authority. Dungarvan is the administrative centre for the rest of the county.

Contents 1 Cities, towns and villages 2 Geography 3 The Déise 4 People 5 Baronies 6 Location Grid 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

Cities, towns and villages

• Abbeyside (Dún na Mainistreach), Affane (Ádh Mheán), Aglish (An Eaglais), Annestown (Bun Abha), An Rinn (Rinn Ua gCuanach), Ardmore (Ard Mhór)
• Ballinacourty (Baile na Cúirte), Ballinameela (Baile na Míolach), Ballinamult (Béal na Molt), Ballinroad (Baile an Rodaigh), Ballybeg (An Baile Beag), Ballybricken (Baile Bhricín), Ballyduff Lower (Baile Uí Dhuibh), Ballyduff Upper (An Baile Dubh), Ballydurn (Baile Uí Dhoirn), Ballygunner (Baile Mhic Gonair), Ballylaneen (Baile Uí Fhlaithnín), Ballymacarbry (Baile Mhic Cairbre), Ballymacart (Baile Mhic Airt), Ballynaneashagh (Baile na nDéiseach), Ballysaggart (Baile na Sagart), Ballytruckle (Baile Throcail), Bilberry (Carraig na bhFraochán), Bunmahon (Bun Machan), Butlerstown (Baile an Bhuitléaraigh)
• Cappoquin (Ceapach Choinn), Carrickbeg (An Charraig Bheag), Carriglea (An Charraig Liath), Cheekpoint (Pointe na Síge), Clashmore (Clais Mhór), Clonea-Power (Cluain Fhia-de Paor), Clonea Strand (Trá Chluain Fhia), Colligan (An Choilleagáin), Coolnasmear (Cúil na Sméar), Crooke (An Crúc)
• Dungarvan (Dún Garbhán), Dunhill (Dún Aill), Dunmore East (Dún Mór)
• Faha (An Fhaiche), Faithlegg (Faiche Liag), Fenor (Fionnúir), Ferrybank (Port Mór), Fews (Feá), Fourmilewater (Caisleán Cuanach)
• Glencairn (Bhaile an Gharráin), Grange (An Ghráinsigh)
• Helvick Head ( Ceann Heilbhic)
• Kilbrien (Cill Bhriain), Kilgobinet (Cill Ghobnait), Kill (An Chill), Killea (Cill Aodha), Kilmacthomas (Coill Mhic Thómáisín), Kilmanahan (Cill Mainchín), Kilmeaden (Cill Míodáin), Kilrossanty (Cill Rosanta), Kilwatermoy (Cill Uachtar Maí), Kinsalebeg (Baile an Phoill), Knockanore (Cnoc an Óir)
• Lemybrien (Léim Uí Bhriain), Lisduggan (Lios Dúgáin), Lismore (Lios Mór Mochuda)
• Mahon Bridge (Droichead na Machan), Mine Head (Mionn Ard), Modeligo (Maigh Dheilge), Mothel (Maothail), Mount Congreve (Bruachaill), Mount Mellaray (Cnoc Mheilearaí)
• Newtown (An Baile Nua)
• Old Parish (An Sean Phobal)
• Passage East (An Phasáiste), Portlaw (Port Lách)
• Rathgormack (Ráth Ó gCormaic)
• Sliabh gCua (Sliabh gCua), Stradbally (An tSráidbhaile)
• Tallow (Tulach an Iarainn), Tramore (Trá Mhór), Touraneena (Tuar an Fhíona), Tourin (An Tuairín), Tycor (An Tigh Corr)
• Waterford (Port Láirge), Whitechurch (An Teampall Geal), Whiting Bay (Béal Abha), Woodstown (Ceann Chnoc Mhilis)
• Villierstown (An Baile Nua)

Geography

County Waterford has two mountain ranges, the Knockmealdown Mountains and the Comeragh Mountains. The highest point in the county is Knockmealdown, at 794m. It also has many rivers, including Ireland's third longest river, the River Suir (184 km); and Ireland's fourth longest river, the Munster Blackwater (168km). There are over 30 beaches along Waterford's volcanic coast line. The county is one of the few in Ireland with a Gaeltacht, an area with native Irish speaking people.

The Déise

County Waterford is known locally as "The Decies" (An Déise). Some time between the 4th and 8th centuries, a tribe of native Gaelic people called the Déisi were driven from the southern parts of the country, conquering and settling here. The ancient principality of the Déise is today roughly coterminous with the current Roman Catholic Diocese of Waterford and Lismore. The Deise has a rich history from megalithic tombs and ogham stones, to Vikings, to remnants of English occupancy, including the Gaulstown dolmen, Reginalds Tower and the Ballysaggartmore Towers respectively.

People

The people that live in the Déise today are known to thrive on Irish traditions such as hurling and eating blaas (a type of floury bread roll, unique to the region).

Baronies

The westernmost of the baronies of county Waterford are "Decies within Drum" and "Decies without Drum", separated by the Drum-Fineen hills.^[1]

Location Grid

	North: County Tipperary	Northeast: County Kilkenny
West: County Cork	County Waterford	East: County Wexford
	South: Celtic Sea

See also

• List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland (County Waterford)
• Saint Declan

References

1. ↑ Egan, P.M. (20 November 2004) [1893]. "Early Waterford History 2. The Decies". History of Waterford. http://www.waterfordcountymuseum.org/exhibit/web?task=Display&art_id=184&pagenum=2. Retrieved on 2008-02-23. 

External links

• County Council website
• Work in Waterford- Provide assistance for people who wish to work in county Waterford.
• Invest in Waterford- an initiative by Waterford County Council to encourage industry to invest in County Waterford.
• Map of Waterford
• Waterford County Museum - 3500 pages of County Waterford history
• Waterford County Image Archive - Thousands of photos and images from County Waterford history
• WaterfordTourism.org - Official Waterford Tourism website
• The Diocese of Waterford and Lismore

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