Here is a brief history of Waterford Crystal... In 1783, two brothers put their heads together and established Waterford Crystal in a busy Irish harbor town.
The brothers started their company with the express purpose of creating beautiful Irish crystal artwork and tableware. We think they succeeded admirably, because even after all these years, their product has an unsurpassed reputation for beauty, elegance, purity of color, style and overall excellence.
Today’s Irish crystal is made essentially the same way it was back in 1783: by highly-skilled, Irish master craftsmen.
Glass- and crystal-blowing is a time-honored tradition on the Emerald Isle. Historical records prove that the Irish have been blowing glass since at least the 1300s.
Today, experts generally agree that Waterford is one of the top three brands of crystal in the world – if not the outright best.
Precise hand-cutting and an exceptionally high lead content give Irish crystal the clarity and sparkle which sets it apart.
Of course, the elegance of the design only adds to its uniqueness.
Whether you’re buying for yourself or for another, look for this special product as an expression of your love for all things Irish.
Here are a few ways you can put the exceptional beauty of Irish crystal on display in your home.
You can find this special Irish product in the form of stemware, barware or home décor objects.
It is an inspired gift for any wedding, anniversary, retirement, birthday or holiday,
For example, you could add a strikingly Irish touch to a St. Patrick’s Day feast by setting your table with exquisite Waterford stemware.
After dinner, you could serve cognac in brandy snifters made by Waterford.
If you feel like going whole-hog Irish on St. Patrick’s Day – or any other day, for that matter – try serving Guinness Stout or Harp Lager in Waterford pilsner glasses!
And the options don't end there.
In fact, a wide range of crystal cake plates, serving platters, salt and pepper shakers, cream-and-sugar sets, vases, candle-holders, centerpieces, clocks and other pieces are ready and waiting to join you in your home or be given as gifts.
They all have the classic Waterford quality – the kind that withstands the test of time.
Obviously the most exciting way to learn about the History of Waterford Crystal is to visit the House of Waterford in southern Ireland!
If travel is not in your for-seeable future, a great alternative is their online location, which you can explore right here.
To purchase Waterford Crystal, or any Irish product for that matter, a great place to start is The Irish Store.
It is probably obvious - at Irish Expressions, we love Irish traditions! Expressing ourselves through Irish-themed activities gives us a deeper sense of connection with Ireland, wherever in the world we happen to be!
Over the years, we have created many downloadable, share-able Irish games, puzzles, recipes, songbooks, quizzes, and much, much more.
Want them right now? Keep reading to learn about "Your Irish Expressions Playbook."
At Irish Expressions, our our goal is simple: to provide you with a unique Irish experience, on demand, wherever you are in the world.
If you have enjoyed our section on fun Irish trivia and customs, you have probably been exposed to many of the most exciting traditions that Ireland has to offer!
Will that entice you to visit Ireland - or to return if you have already been?
We hope so!
But even if that is not possible, you can still enjoy the magic of Ireland in these pages. Check out the links at the top of the page for simple instructions on how to explore Irish landmarks, sing Irish songs, enjoy Irish food, and much more!
Congratulations on learning more about the Emerald Isle and discovering what we like to call your "Irish Side." You may be thinking "I'd love to actually VISIT Ireland but that's really not in the cards right now. What am I supposed to do with the stuff I just learned?"
Well never fear! Since 2009 we have collected all of the best printable, shareable resources we could find, to help you put your new knowledge of Ireland to good use. We've put them all together in a single download we call "Your Irish Expressions Playbook," which contains over 50 pages of games, puzzles, recipes, songbooks, quizzes, travel guides and much, much more.
Purchase them ALL for one small price, print as many copies as you like and share them with your friends - with no limitations! But order soon - we are already adding to the Playbook for future editions and this price will not last long.
Oh, want one more reason to order right away? If you buy YOUR copy of the Playbook now, you will be allowed to upgrade to any new future edition for FREE.
ORDER YOUR IRISH EXPRESSIONS PLAYBOOK HERE