To mark Heritage Week and celebrate 1,111 years of the Port of Waterford, Ireland’s oldest port, has released the third episode of its new podcast series, Port of Waterford 1111. Hosted by Tom MacSweeney of RTÉ’s Seascapes, the episode features an interview with Eamonn McEneaney.
Eamonn is a renowned historian and former Director of the Waterford Museum of Treasures, where he served for over 25 years, playing a pivotal role in preserving and promoting Waterford's Viking heritage. His contributions have been recognised with an honorary doctorate from South East Technological University and his appointment as an Officer of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit for his efforts in strengthening cultural ties between Ireland and Norway.
This episode invites listeners on a journey through over a thousand years of maritime history with historian Eamonn McEneaney and maritime expert and broadcaster Tom MacSweeney. It delves into the fascinating story of Waterford Port, revealing its significance as one of Ireland’s oldest and most important trading hubs.
Waterford’s unique geographical position made it the closest major Irish port to Europe for centuries. Trade was the lifeblood of the city, connecting the wealth of the inland regions to international markets. From essential goods such as oil, iron, and salt to luxury items like wine, the port’s activity shaped the city’s identity and economy. The episode highlights the critical role of the “Three Sisters” rivers — the Barrow, Nore, and Suir — which allowed Waterford to develop into a dominant trading centre with access deep into Ireland’s interior.
Listeners are taken behind the scenes of the city’s dramatic history, from merchants who governed the port and fought off pirates, to the creation of “Traitor’s Ditch,” a grim reminder of turbulent times. The podcast explores Waterford’s longstanding trade privileges under English rule, including the minting of its own silver coins, and the production of distinctive local goods such as “Waterford rugs,” woollen garments prized even by medieval European nobility, and the early whiskey trade.
The conversation between Eamonn McEneaney and Tom MacSweeney brings this rich history to life, combining expert scholarship with engaging storytelling. The episode also examines key moments in Irish and British history that played out in Waterford — from sieges and rivalries with neighbouring ports to the arrival of the Black Death via the harbour.
This episode of Port of Waterford 1111 offers listeners a vivid and detailed understanding of how Waterford’s maritime heritage shaped the city’s development and Ireland’s connection to Europe. It is essential listening for anyone interested in history, maritime culture, or the story of Ireland itself.
To listen to the full podcast, visit https://www.portofwaterford.com/home/port-1111/ and over the next 6 months, there will be plenty more to come in the series, so don’t forget to follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen and learn more at PortofWaterford.com.
Photo: Pictured at the Port of Waterford is Eamonn McEneaney, who features in the second episode of ‘Port of Waterford 1111’, A new podcast series launched by The Port of Waterford, as Waterford and the Port of Waterford celebrate 1,111 years this year. Eamonn is pictured with the host of the podcast series, veteran maritime journalist Tom MacSweeney, and is available to listen to on www.portofwaterford.com and wherever you get your podcasts.
