Celebrations to mark 800th anniversary of Waterford city begin

Celebrations to kick off the 800th anniversary of Waterford city being granted its first charter by King John got under way on Thursday when the Minister for Arts and Culture unveiled a giant chess set.

Modelled on the Lewis chess set found on the eponymous Scottish island and believed to have been made by Vikings in medieval times, the larger-than-life board and pieces opened on Thursday by Heather Humphreys are in recognition of the role played by the Vikings in Waterford's foundation.

Chess pieces dating back to Viking times were found during archaeological excavations in the city and it's thought the set found on Lewis was bound for Ireland, and possibly even Waterford.

Proceedings at Cathedral Square in Waterford's Viking Triangle were enlivened by a brief chess match between the Minister and the Mayor of Waterford, John Cummins.

Outmanoeuvred

In what she'll hope won't prove a metaphor for her political career, the Minister found herself outmanoeuvred by her younger Fine Gael colleague before finding her game coming to an abrupt end.

There was no chance of her descending into “obscene or profane” language, of the sort recently banned by Waterford city and council in its public parks, as a result of her loss.

“I don’t use bad language,” she laughed when later reminded of the new bylaw by the media.

The Minister said the chess set was a “fun” way for the public to engage with their history and to draw people into an old part of Waterford city, transformed in recent years into an area rich with heritage-based attractions.

“It’s a piece of public art and people can engage with it and I even had a go myself there.

“I didn’t win, I lost very soon in the game, but it’s great that people can engage in that way and of course we’re in a very historic part of the city here.

‘Restoring heritage’

“There are museums and I’ve just been through one of the old alms-houses - and it’s amazing what’s happening here in terms of restoring their heritage.”

The Waterford 800 Medieval festival weekend continues until Sunday and includes a medieval fair in Cathedral Square on Friday between 10am and 5pm, as well as a free public lecture on “How the evil King John transformed Waterford” this afternoon by Eamonn McEneaney, director of Waterford Treasures Museums, and a guided walk tomorrow (Saturday) at 2pm through King John’s Waterford.

“The festival this weekend will also bring the fascinating history of this city to life,” Ms Humphreys said, adding it is focused at young people “who are the guardians of our cultural heritage for the future” in particular.

Mr Cummins said the ongoing process of developing and tracing the city’s past through the ages remains focused on the Viking Triangle. “We call it the dead centre of Waterford.”