Meagher’s Quay

History

Waterford Quays, 1880 
© Bill Irish.
Waterford Quays, 1880 © Bill Irish.

Way back in the early 1700s, the city council had a bright idea to knock down the river-facing walls and use the remains to make the quays wider and more commerce-friendly. This move paid off as more merchants moved in and Waterford became a major player in the bacon game. Trade in butter and corn was also a big deal and huge stores were built along the quays.

The area around the quays became a hub for markets selling everything from hay and straw to potatoes, fresh fish, and veggies.

Meagher Quay, Waterford City 
© Waterford City Archive.
Meagher Quay, Waterford City © Waterford City Archive.

By the end of the 1700s, trade with Newfoundland (part of modern-day Canada) was on the rise. Every year, nearly 70 boats made the trip and around 5,000 people from Waterford and nearby areas joined them.

This trade was a major job creator in the city. With no cars or trucks back then, goods were offloaded, uploaded, and transported by hand along the quays, so plenty of workers were needed.

[Reginald's Tower, Poole's Stores and The Quay, Waterford]. 1901.
[Reginald’s Tower, Poole’s Stores and The Quay, Waterford]. 1901.

Waterford was also a major player in shipbuilding between 1820 and 1882, with White’s Shipyard and Malcomson’s Ironworks Shipyard being the big names in the biz.

Meagher's Quay Reviews

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