The Waterford Tall Ships 2011 was an amazing event excellently organized This being the first of several Posts about my birthplace let me explain our City Arms. Waterford is a Viking city first settled by Vikings in 873 but actually permanently settled in 914 CE and is Irelands oldest City. On the later arrival of the Normans, themselves descended from Vikings their leader Strongbow married the RĂ of Leinster's daughter Aoife on August 29, 1170. This led to the two Viking descended peoples living, learning and working together thus developing a unique Port City and people, somewhat different from the rest of the Irish.
The Arms describe the City, at the top is the lion and harp indicating an Irish Royal City. The golden lion indicates a Royal City and the silver seahorse a Port City. The three leopards on the red background are the Royal mark and below them are three Viking longships indicating the Viking founders. The motto in Latin "Urbs Intacta Manet Waterfordia" translates as "Waterford Remains the Untaken City". Its walls had been successfully defended many times. The name Waterford is from Old Norse 'Veorafjord/Vedrafjord' meaning a windy but sheltered area. Today it is still the excellent Port the Vikings recognized and appreciated.
This plaque is displayed in Colbeck Street directly across the street from the house in which NAUTICAL LOG was born. So with this introduction we shall be writing some Posts in the days ahead.
Good Watch.
Please remember the seafarers held captive by pirates off Somalia. Sadly they seem to be more and more forgotten about.
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