Madam, - The exciting discovery of an important Norse settlement on the River Suir, not far from Waterford, has got people asking: Why did not Woodstown become Waterford?
To any mariner, the reason is plain: like Drake's Pool in Cork Harbour, it is partly hidden by the bend in the river as well as by Ireland's then good forest cover, making the site not too obvious to hostile eyes. But it would be useless as an international port.
So these clever Norse built their town where the city and harbour are now, a place with access to the three sisters, Suir, Nore and Barrow, river highways into the heart of Ireland, as well as to the open sea and the world's ocean highways for trade, discovery and adventure. Woodstown will tell us more about the talented Vikings who laid the foundations of Waterford city. - Yours, etc.,
DAPHNE POCHIN MOULD, Aherla, Co Cork.