History of Waterford

1167, Diarmait Mac Murchada, the deposed King of Leinster, failed in an attempt to take Waterford. He returned in 1170 with Cambro-Norman mercenaries under Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke (known as Strongbow); together they besieged and took the city after a desperate defence. In furtherance of the Norman invasion of Ireland, King Henry II of England landed at Waterford in 1171. Waterford and then Dublin were declared royal cities, with Dublin also declared capital of Ireland.

Annalistic references

AI926.2 The fleet of Port Láirge [came] over land, and they settled on Loch Gair.

AI927.2 A slaughter of the foreigners of Port Láirge [was inflicted] at Cell Mo-Chellóc by the men of Mumu and by the foreigners of Luimnech.

AI984.2 A great naval expeditionby the sons of Aralt to Port Láirge, and they and the son of Cennétig exchanged hostages there as a guarantee of both together providing a hosting to attack ÁthCliath. The men of Mumu assembled and proceeded to MairgLaigen, and the foreigners overcame the UíCheinnselaig and went by sea; and the men of Mumu, moreover, devastated Osraige in the same year, and its churches, and the churches of Laigin, and the fortifications of both were laid waste, and GillaPátraic, son of Donnchadh, was released.

AI1018.5 Death of Ragnall son of Ímar, king of Port Láirge.

AI1031.9 Cell Dara and Port Láirge were burned.

Throughout the medieval period, Waterford was Ireland's second city after Dublin. In the 15th