From hermits to Huguenot words - 10 interesting facts about Waterford

If you're from Waterford you're probably well versed in the unique and interesting things about Ireland's best place to live. However, there's no harm in a refresher, and you may just find out something you hadn't heard before! 

Here's our 10 most interesting facts about Waterford: 

1. Popular actor Andrew Scott (of Sherlock and Fleabag fame) once starred in a 1991 TV advert for Waterford brand Flahavans as a child. He later revealed to Ryan Tubridy on The Late Late Show that he doesn't actually like porridge, and that the porridge he ate in the advert was "disgusting". 

Unbeknownst to Scott, one of the Flahavans was actually present in the audience and bore witness to the whole exchange! 

2. The Irish flag was flown for the first time in Waterford by Thomas Francis Meagher in 1848. According to the Department of the Taoiseach, Meagher stated, "The white in the centre signifies a lasting truce between Orange and Green and I trust that beneath its folds the hands of Irish Protestants and Irish Catholics may be clasped in generous and heroic brotherhood." 

3. A steam engine was once used to drive the cutting wheels at Waterford Crystal in 1826. 

4. A Waterford clergyman called Luke Wadding is responsible for establishing St Patrick's Day as a national feast day in the 17th century thanks to influence he held in Rome. 

5. A cannonball fired during the Parliamentary siege in 1650 can be seen deeply embedded in the stone of Reginald's Tower. If you look high on the tower to the right hand side of the entrance, you can catch a glimpse. 

6. A Lackendarra man born in the 1880s once spent 40 years living in a cave in the Comeraghs. Jim Fitzgerald retreated to the mountains after returning from World War I with shell-shock. 

According to the Irish Examiner, his story was told by a Waterford voluntary arts group in 2014 as part of the Comeraghs Wild Festival. The bilingual play 'Lackendarra Jim - A Hermit of the comeragh Mountains' took place after a walk to Coumshingaun Lake. 

7. The Waterford Blaa dates all the way back to the 17th century and the arrival of a group of Huguenots to the city. According to Walsh's Bakehouse, the name for the round bread rolls may be derived from the Huguenot word 'Blaad' meaning 'flour', or 'Blanc', a French word meaning white. 

8. The legendary cream crakcer was developed in Waterford City during the 19th century by biscuit makers W & R Jacob. According to Waterford News and Star, the long lasting snacks went down well with sailors on long journeys and, eventually, became popular among the tea-drinking class as well. 

9. The first frog in Ireland is believed to have been discovered at a meadow near Waterford. One theory about the frog's introduction to the country is that it was brought among the luggage of the Anglo-Normans who invaded the island around 1170.

However, according to the Irish Wildlife Trust, genetic analyses suggests particular populations in the south west point to the common frog possibly being indigenous to Ireland after all. 

10. Waterford City's motto - "Urbs Inacta Manet Waterfordia", meaning "Waterford the unconquerable city" - was bestowed by King Henry VII in the 15th century. 

According to Waterford Treasures, Oliver Cromwell was said to have remarked "I shall take Waterford by Hook or by Crooke!" during his 1649 siege of Waterford City. However, neither hook nor crook helped him conquer the city and his efforts failed.

Over 1,000 Cromwellian troops died outside Waterford from a fever, and Cromwell reported on his retreat: "It being so terrible a day I ever marched in my life." 

He never returned to Ireland.