VIDEO SOURCE: IRELAND'S ANCIENT EAST/YOUTUBE

THE VIKING TRIANGLE

In the 8th century, Ireland had some unexpected guests. The Vikings came from the north, sailing in magnificent ships, seeking priceless treasures and battling Irish chieftains. And they changed the island forever.

Travel around the Viking Triangle of counties Waterford, Wexford and Kilkenny in Ireland’s Ancient East and you’ll see the legacy of the Vikings everywhere, from the place names to the buildings to the treasures they left behind. The Vikings came to Ireland to plunder, drawn by rich monasteries filled with gold. But as time went on, they settled, forged alliances, established trading routes with Europe and became a vital part of Ireland’s story.

Rich in history and folklore, Waterford is one of Ireland’s oldest cities – a bustling mix of narrow streets, medieval walls and charming cafés. Founded in 914 by Viking settlers, the city gets its name from the Norse word "Veðrafjorðr", meaning "windy fjord". From these humble beginnings, Waterford grew to become a flourishing medieval port, which dominated trade between Ireland and its European neighbours for centuries.

Waterford's Reginald’s Tower is the oldest civic building in Ireland and has been in continuous use for over 800 years.

While Waterford may be a small city, it has a big reputation as one of Ireland's most important centres of Viking history. It even has its very own Viking Triangle, which contains a trio of museums known as Waterford Treasures. In the Medieval Museum, you'll find the Waterford Kite Brooch, one of the finest surviving examples of Viking jewellery. Metres away is Reginald's Tower: a stone fortress said to be named for the Viking who founded the city.

And then there's the gracious Georgian Bishop's Palace: where you can explore Waterford's later history and see the oldest surviving piece of Waterford Crystal (dating from 1789).

At the 5th century monastic site at Ardmore, you'll see a fine example of a round tower. Its purpose? To provide refuge from marauding Vikings.

Sea tales, stormy characters and centuries of history are imprinted in Wexford. And the Vikings played a starring role in that history from the early 9th century when they established a small settlement at the mouth of the River Slaney, which they called "Ueigsfjord", meaning "the ford of the waterlogged island".

Today, you can see their legacy in less obvious way, as many of their names are still carried on by the local population, including surnames such as including MacAuliffe (Son of Olaf) and MacManus (Son of Magnus).

The Vikings spent 300 years making Wexford a true Viking town. They worked as traders, became allies to the local Gaelic kings, and hired themselves out as mercenaries. You can still see their influence as you walk through the winding streets of the town centre, and follow the narrow lanes that slope down towards the quay. Because in a Viking town, all roads lead to the water.

If you want to experience Wexford at its bustling best, make sure you visit during the annual Wexford Festival Opera, a fixture in the town’s cultural life since 1951.

Discover how the Vikings may have lived at the Irish National Heritage Park, where you can see a replica of a Viking town.

Kilkenny’s history stretches back into the early 6th century, but its Viking legacy is buried deep below the earth. The city itself has no reports of Viking attacks, likely because it was a part of the mighty kingdom of Ossory, which gained strength in the Viking Age. Even Kilkenny's church, now St Canice's Cathedral on the city's Medieval Mile, was left untouched by the Norsemen. But not everywhere was so fortunate.

According to ancient annals, the Dunmore Caves in Castlecomer have a sinister tale to tell. It's said they were the scene of a massacre of 1,000 people – mostly women and children of a local tribe – by Vikings in 928.

This Kilkenny spot became even more rooted in Viking legacy when a treasure hoard of silver and bronze was discovered by a tour guide in 1990s. It included buttons from a cloak – described by some as an expensive Viking fashion item of the period.