List of rulers of Waterford

Contents

The Kings of Viking Waterford (914-1170)

The Vikings, who had created a longphort near Waterford in 853, finally settled and created a town in 914. These were led by Ottir Iarla. Ragnall ua Ímair then installed himself over them in 917, however leaving a year later to Britain, with Ottir, and presumably placing a deputy in control. Dates and names source [1]. (Dates are extrapolated from known births, deaths and successions. The list of Viking kings is unlikely to be exhaustive.) Several of the 11th century Norse kings, the descendants of Ivar of Waterford (died 1000), were both allied to and vassals of the powerful O'Brien dynasty, with whom they may also have been intermarried, and who in at least one case in the 1070s (Diarmait, son of Toirrdelbach Ua Briain) exercised direct rule over the small city.

  1. Ottir Iarla (914-917)
  2. Ragnall ua Ímair (917-920/1)
  3. Ivar of Waterford (?-1000), probably a grandson of Ragnall
  4. Ragnall (1003-1018) (Date of death[2])
  5. Imar (1018-1022)
  6. Ragnall (1022) (or -1035[3])
  7. Sitric (1022-?)
  8. Cumana (?-1038)
  9. Wadter (?-?)
  10. Ragnall (?-1170)
  11. O’Faoláin (?-1170)

The fate of the Waterford Norse is uncertain after the Norman invasion. Forced out of their own city, they are recorded occupying some of the surrounding countryside for a period afterwards. Also uncertain is how long the Uí Ímair continued to provide rulers.

Rulers during early period of Cambro-Norman/English rule (1170-1284)

Rulers of Waterford, nominal or otherwise, till the succession of mayors begin. It appears that the first known charter was issued in 1205 by King John, although Waterford was declared a royal city by Henry II in 1171[4]. It is known that Waterford had a Provost in 1195, so certainly there was a civil administration prior to the establishment of the mayoralty[5]. Source for information in this section:[6].

(Provosts of Waterford preceded the mayors. -- Need to be added.)

Mayors of Waterford (1284-Present day)

The mayor of Waterford wears a traditional gold chain during official duties.

The links on the chain commemorate individual past mayors, though the families of the mayors themselves are responsible for providing each link. Thus, the number of links is far less than the total number of past mayors. Links may added retroactively, usually by the descendants of past mayors.

Mayors are listed by year. Sources (Years 1377-1891)[7], (Other years)[8].

1284-1299

1300-1399

1400-1499

Charter revoked between the years 1495 to 1509 inclusive for unknown reason.

1500-1599

1600-1699

1700-1799

1800-1891

1900-1999

1900 Alexander Nelson
1901 Richard Hearne
1902 Richard Hearne
1903 Sir James A. Power
1904 James A. Power
1905 Sir James A. Power
1906 Maurice Quinlan
1907 Maurice Quinlan
1908 Thomas White
1909 Thomas White
1910 James Hackett
1911 James Hackett
1912 Michael Kirwan
1913 Richard Power
1914 Richard Power
1915 Richard Power
1916 John J. O'Sullivan
1917 John J. O'Sullivan
1918 David MacDonald
1919 David MacDonald
1920 Vincent J. White
1921 Vincent J. White
1922 Vincent J. White
1923 Vincent J. White
1924 Vincent J. White
1925-1926A Vincent J. White
1925-1926B Richard Keane
1926 John J. Wyley
1927 John J. Wyley
1928 Edward Walsh
1929 Edward Walsh
1930 William Jones
1931 William Jones
1932 Matthew Cassin
1933 Matthew Cassin
1934 Edward Dawson
1935 James Aylward
1936 James Aylward
1937 James Aylward
1938 James Aylward
1939 James Aylward
1940 James Aylward
1941 Thomas Dunne
1942 Paul Caulfield
1943 William Jones
1944 Bryan Cunningham
1945 William Kenneally
1946 Michael Coffey
1947 John F. Gloster
1948 Thaddeus Lynch
1949 James Croke
1950 James Aylward
1951 Thaddeus Lynch
1952 Martin Cullen
1953 Patrick Browne
1954 Patrick Browne
1955 Thomas Gallagher
1956 Thomas Gallagher
1957 Denis J. Fitzpatrick
1958 Denis J. Fitzpatrick
1959 Richard Jones
1960 James Power
1961 John Griffin
1962 John Griffin
1963 Thomas Brennan
1964 Patrick Browne
1965 Patrick Browne
1966 Patrick Browne
1967 Thomas Cullen
1968 William Jones
1969 William Jones
1970 Maurice Downey
1971 Timothy Galvin
1972 James Quinlan
1973 Thomas Brennan
1974 Joseph Cummins
1975 Edward A. Collins
1976 William Kenneally
1977 Timothy Gavin
1978 Patrick Power
1979 Stephen Rogers
1980 Thomas Brennan
1981 Thomas Browne
1982 Joseph Cummins
1983 Richard Jones
1984 William Kenneally
1985 Liam Curham
1986 Brian Swift
1987 David Daniels
1988 Brendan Kenneally
1989 Patrick Power
1990 Liam Curham
1991 Hilary Quinlan
1992 Thomas Browne
1993 Martin Cullen
1994 Stephen Rogers
1995 Maurice Cummins

1999-Present

References

  1. ^ Waterford County Museum - Lewis's Topographical Dictionary
  2. ^ Ireland (Hibernia) Early Medieval Period: 400 - 1200 A.D.
  3. ^ The Kings of the Isle of Man
  4. ^ Discover Waterford, by Eamon McEneaney (2001). (ISBN 0-86278-656-8)
  5. ^ A History of Waterford and its Mayors from the 12th to the 20th Century, ed. Eamonn McEneaney, Waterford Corporation (1995)
  6. ^ P.M. Egan's History of Waterford: Early Waterford History
  7. ^ P.M. Egan's History of Waterford: Mayors of Waterford City
  8. ^ Google cache: Tripod Waterford History Site (Need better reference.)
  9. ^ The Ancient and Present State of the County and City of Wateford, Charles Smith, Mercier Press, 1746
  10. ^ Letter from John Lyvett, Mayor of Waterford, to Oliver Cromwell, The Works of Thomas Carlyle, Thomas Carlyle, 1897