'Dig into Waterford' as Ireland's oldest city celebrates 1,111 years
Pictured at the launch are the Visit Waterford members in front of Ireland’s oldest civic building, Reginald’s Tower, with Cllr Jason Murphy, Mayor of Waterford City and County and the Visit Waterford Chair, Clare Barrett. Photo Patrick Browne.
On the first day of summer, Visit Waterford officially launched its ambitious 2025 tourism campaign, ‘Dig Into Waterford,’ inviting domestic and international visitors to explore Ireland’s oldest city and its surrounding regions, in a year of monumental celebration.
Marking Waterford’s 1,111th birthday, the campaign promises a deep and engaging journey into the city’s rich heritage, vibrant culture, thriving food scene, scenic coastline and outdoor adventures.
The aim of the campaign will be to encourage visitors to not just see Waterford, but to dig into its stories, its spirit, and its significance in shaping the Ireland of today.
Speaking about the initiative, Mayor of Waterford City & County, Cllr Jason Murphy said: "Waterford is the birthplace of urban Ireland. At 1,111 years old, our city stands proudly as the oldest in the country.
"This campaign gives us an incredible opportunity to celebrate our past while welcoming the world to experience our present and our future.”
To help visitors tailor their trips, Visit Waterford has curated six unique, ‘Dig In’ itineraries and each of them are themed and will guide visitors through some of the region’s most captivating locations.
From the charming coastal villages of Dunmore East, Ardmore, and its own Gaeltacht, An Rinn, to the iconic destinations of Tramore, Lismore, and Dungarvan, each itinerary offers a different slice of Waterford’s character.
Naturally, the historic city of Waterford itself takes centre stage, with walking tours, exhibitions, and cultural experiences that will bring over a millennium of stories to life.
Topics such as: ‘Dig into the Past, ‘Dig into Nature, ’ ‘Dig into Luxury, ’ ‘Dig into Flavour, ’ ‘Dig into Culture, ’ and ‘Dig into Comfort’ can all be explored on visitwaterford.com
Commenting on the initiative, the Chairperson of Visit Waterford, Clare Barrett said: "Waterford is where Ireland truly began - the heart of our urban story."
With regard to the overall campaign she said it wasn't just "a call to visit" and went on to describe it as an open invitation to explore everything the city and county has to offer.
"‘Dig Into Waterford’ isn’t just a call to visit, it’s an invitation to uncover the layers of our heritage, from the Vikings to the Victorians, and everything in between," she said.
"We aim to inspire curiosity, pride, and discovery," she added.
In addition to the 'Dig into Waterford' campaign, as part of the 2025 celebrations, Visit Waterford has also launched a brand new podcast titled, 'Digging Into Waterford'.
A spokesperson for Visit Waterford told Waterford News & Star that the first episode, focuses attention on ritual landscapes and Viking legacies.
The podcast is now available on Spotify and gives fascinating insight into the city and county.
The podcast explores pivotal moments and lesser-known tales from Waterford’s long and fascinating history and provides intriguing insight into the legacy of tales that shaped the city and county making it what it is today.
Featuring interviews with local historians, archaeologists, artists and community figures, the podcast offers an immersive way for listeners to connect with the Deise city and county both from afar but also as a guide during a visit.
To podcast is now online is available online on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/episode/0IDIckDEjtXIbSR1kuqGk7?si=YwQLDZrUQoGpEtZEl1GgOw&nd=1&dlsi=5b55e713074543c6
“We wanted to create something that could deepen people’s understanding of Waterford, even before they arrive,” said Clare.
“The podcast is both a tribute to our past and a tool for our future," she added.
She also said it would help new audiences experience the unique soul of the city and county.
In a further celebration of local culture and community, Visit Waterford is also putting out a call for folklore submissions from the public.
Local people are being are encouraged to share their favourite stories, whether they are myths, legends or personal memories, but mostly with a drive towards local curiosities for inclusion in the Waterford Folklore Heritage Ebook, which will be released later this year.
"We are delighted to announce this community-driven initiative,” said Clare.
"Waterford’s history doesn’t just live in books and museums, it lives in the voices of its people," she added.
Clare went on to comment: "This is a chance to preserve those voices and local history stories for generations to come.”
Submissions for the folklore project will be accepted throughout the summer, with the final collection to be unveiled in September and published before the end of 2025.
Full travel information, downloadable itineraries, the events guide and podcast access go to www.visitwaterford.com and through Visit Waterford’s social media channels @visitwaterford.
‘Dig Into Waterford’ is proudly supported by Waterford City and County Council and Fáilte Ireland.
