'I Love Me County'

Waterford has seen a bareknuckle boxing contender murdered in New York, a jockey who wore the silks of not one but three Kings of England, and has pioneered one of the first Ladies' Soccer competitions in the Republic of Ireland. As a seaport established by Vikings to becoming a shipbuilding and commercial hub up until the early twentieth century, Waterford city has seen Brazilian footballers, English rowers and Polish cyclists compete at its pitches, rivers, and tracks. Even sports that would be seen as incredibly niche such as baseball, chess and roller hockey have all been played and at one time thrived in Waterford. This book reveals what has been forgotten in the histories of Waterford FC and Waterford GAA, from the neglected stories to the great what ifs. Discover the tales of how an American yachtsman visited the city on a tour that saw him aim to build a replica of Kilkenny Castle, to whether Arthur Conan Doyle played cricket while fishing and boating along the river Blackwater. All of these before a ball is kicked or a cross word exchanged in the heat of battle.

CIAN MANNING is a Waterford historian and author who has a passion for history and sport. He has presented talks on how enthusiasm for sport can invite people into exploring their interests from a history and heritage perspective. He has previously contributed to Pog Mo Goal, Football Pink, BTLM and History Ireland. His first book for The History Press, Waterford City: A History, was published in 2019.