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WATERFORD HAS BEEN placed number 30 in a New York Times list of ‘52 Places to Go’ this year.
Described as a city that “sparkles with history and natural treasures”, Waterford came ahead of both Vienna which came in at number 38 and the Normandy region of France at 44.
Among the highlights, NYT travel expert AnneLise Sorensen pinpoints the Viking Triangle as well as the “less-ancient attraction” of the Irish Wake Museum, which opened last June and is dedicated to the ritual of funerals.
The Irish Museum of Time along with the newly built Greenway also got a shout-out, with readers advised to “top off your Greenway adventure with afternoon tea” at Mount Congreve Gardens.
Other destinations that made the guide were Paris, which placed second, and twelth-placed Manchester. The Australian island state of Tasmania narrowly beat the Crystal County, coming in at number 29.
Daniel Mulhall / TwitterDidn’t I pick a good place in which to spend a few January days? #Waterford A #placetovisit in 2024. @nytimes. https://t.co/lR3QI7hcZZ pic.twitter.com/lfXeSgYj09
— Daniel Mulhall (@DanMulhall) January 10, 2024
Waterford county was also featured by Condé Nast Traveller as one of the best Place’s To Go in the UK and Ireland in 2024.
Irish tourism and travel locations have been making waves internationally in the last few years, with Smithfield being named one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world by Time Out last October, and Phibsborough previously being named as the 27th coolest neighbourhood by the same publication in 2020.
Top of the New York Times list of 52 locations was The Path of Totality. If you haven’t heard the phrase before, it’s a new one on us too: as the article explains, the ‘path’ traces a line across North America which encompasses major cities.
It’s all to do with the solar eclipse: “From the beaches of Mazatlán, Mexico, to the rugged coves of Maberly, Newfoundland, the sky will be the stage on April 8 as a total solar eclipse sweeps across North America. This year, the moon will be near its closest point to Earth, resulting in an unusually wide swath and long-lasting totality.”
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I wouldn’t even have it in the top 52 places to visit in Ireland…
Did 2 weekends in Waterford last year.
Had great fun. Reasonable prices, really good bar scene and some good restaurants.
Good stuff. We’ve had an inherent inferiority complex in so many areas with validation only being gained by international attention or approval. This is changing with more of an interest in keeping the Irish language alive and huge success in music and the arts, some sport too, but a little bit of external validation is still required at times!
We have our problems like everywhere else but there’s a lot going for this country too. It’s easy to forget at times when most of what you read is problems and people complaining endlessly about those problems. Housing needs to be sorted though. The brain drain where youth leave for elsewhere with all the education and skills they have built up here is a tragedy. It’s such a precious resource to give away for free to the governments and exchequers of other countries. Adventure and experience is good. Losing skilled and talented citizens forever not so much.
Really, why…
@damien leen: Because it really is the best
The greatest hole ever nothing in the place
@John O brien: Manifestly untrue. Leaving space out of it we have the Kola Superdeep Borehole in Russia for starters. And even if you hate the place, that’s something to do. Walk around and have a good moan! Seriously though there’s loads of stuff to do. Link is mostly daytime activities but there’s great nightlife and summer festivals too! (From a Dub so no bias!)
https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Attractions-g186638-Activities-Waterford_County_Waterford.html
@John O brien: that’s BS…loads to do particularly summer and Christmas…your just jealous
@Clare Power: I live in waterford
Have to say was impressed with the place last summer, not really in the city much but the coast was excellent, with loads of really good swimming spots, a lovely coastline, with M9 it’s accessible. Great seafood options everywhere… strange for Ireland, even stranger that we’re not all living forever as a result of a world-class seafood diet but that’s a whole other issue, anyway, great spot, well done Waterford, ye’ll never beat Limerick in the hurling tho lads.
Port Láirge nó na Déise. ;)
I lived there for two years. While it has improved since my time I wouldn’t recommend it as superior to, for instance, Kilkenny, Cork , Galway or Sligo.
Why?
@Dusty Bawls: Because it’s the best
@Mayo seem to be the football equivalent of Waterfo: …..No,it’s not.hole of a place.
@Dusty Bawls: where?
We’re always looking for validation from the US for some reason.
@EMcD: Whether we like it or not the US has been the cultural top dog for all of our lives. There isn’t a country on earth with similar success at exporting its pop culture en masse. Add in the huge Irish diaspora and it’s understandable why an occasional nod from the US goes down well! They’ve been hugely supportive of many Irish acts, works and endeavours over the years.
An Irish city is acknowledged by a premier media source as being one of the best places to visit and the whingers kick off. You lot ate incessant.
County Waterford is fine, but I’d have Birr (County Offaly) close to the top of my list. Also, despite what appears on social media, Ireland is the 4th safest holiday destination in the world.
Summer in the city. Live music every weekend all over city for 3 months
Is the BOK still playing in T & H’s on a Wednesday night?
@brian o’leary: T & H’s closed at the moment… great pub… being renovated…
@brian o’leary: “you’ll never bate the BOK!!” Legend.
@brian o’leary: bok died years ago
All those naysayers have clearly not visited Waterford in a long time. The city is a bit rough around the edges but tell me one that isn’t? It’s affordable and has great night life. The county is 50 miles wide by the way and has 3 of the best tourist towns in the country in lismore, Ardmore and dungarvan. Beach’s, mountains, river walks. The county is heaving with tourists every summer and it’s for a reason.
Moan groan complain all the kips and s..tholes the potholes and of course the government ….Scowlers and growlers and nobody to build us a free house or free education or free schoolbooks free water subsidised rent energy etc etc So we will emigrate to mythical countries with our degrees and all will be rosy for us . All our rights but no responsibility Drag everyone one down why don’t ye ? P s loved the time museum
Great city with many fantastic beaches and seaside towns , with the development of the north Quays and revival of its airport it’s on the rise !
sadly the BOK died a number of years ago
Wot ! No Ballymun ???
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