Little Island, Waterford facts for kids
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Little Island ferry
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 Little Island
Location in island of Ireland
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| Geography | |
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| Location | River Suir |
| Coordinates | 52°14′50″N 7°02′55″W / 52.2472°N 7.0486°W |
| Area | 1.7 km2 (0.66 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| Province | Munster |
| County | Waterford |
Little Island is an island located on the eastern edge of Waterford City in Ireland. It is surrounded by the River Suir and a waterway called Kings Channel. The island covers an area of about 420 acres.
History of Little Island
People believe that a religious settlement existed on Little Island a very long time ago. This was between the 6th and 8th centuries. Two old objects found on the island support this idea. One is an 8th-century carving of a winged angel. The other is a 6th-century carving of a monk's head. The monk's head carving can now be seen over the main entrance of the castle.
During the Viking Age (9th to 11th centuries), the island was known by names like Dane's Island or Island Vra. The Vikings built two forts here. These forts helped them guard the river at both the north and south ends of the island.
The first family to live on the island was the FitzGerald Family. They were related to Strongbow, a famous Norman knight. They received the land for their help in the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1170. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the FitzGeralds held many feasts and banquets on the island. Later, the family's name changed to Purcell-Fitzgerald through marriage.
The very first building on the island was a Norman keep, which was a type of strong tower. By the 15th century, this keep was in ruins and could not be lived in. A new tower was then built on the same spot. This tower is now the central part of the current castle.
The castle started small but grew over time. It was made bigger in 1849 by John Fitzgerald. More parts, called the east and west wings, were added in 1875 and 1895. These new parts were built from stone and now look just like the older parts of the castle. At that time, the island also had modern workshops and a generator for electricity. There were also farm buildings and a large house for the farm manager. Many of these buildings were still there in 2014.
The FitzGerald family owned the island and castle for almost 800 years. They sold it in 1966 to the Igoe family. The Igoes bought the property and built large glasshouses. They used these to grow flowers for export. They also fixed up the castle and other houses on the island. For example, a house called "Seaford" was where the ferry-man lived. The Igoe family hired many people from Waterford during this time. They are known for saving the castle and making the island modern.
Before the Igoe family, in 1956, John and Betty Williams lived on the island. They leased it from Princess Maria D'Ardia Caracciola. They had 40 cows and sent milk across the river every day. They also grew crops like barley, wheat, and potatoes. They used a special "cattle boat" to move machinery across the river. The remains of this boat can still be seen today.
From 1973 to 1974, Little Island was used as a filming location for the movie Barry Lyndon by Stanley Kubrick.
In 1988, the castle became a hotel. The island then became the hotel's grounds. A large part of the island has since been turned into a golf course.
Getting to Little Island
For a long time, getting to Little Island was tricky. People used a small rowing boat called a "prong." Later, a very old barge with a motor was used to move crops. As time went on, better ways to cross the water were used. These included a World War II DUKW (an amphibious truck) and a landing craft. Eventually, a special chain ferry was built. This ferry could carry large vehicles.
The Igoe family, who bought the island in 1965, were very important in improving access. They also developed the island for growing plants. They had five acres of modern glasshouses. They grew flowers for export and outdoor crops like salads and daffodils. Around 30 people worked on Little Island during this time.
Little Island Today
Today, Little Island is home to a luxury hotel and golf course called Waterford Castle. The hotel has 19 bedrooms. The island is connected to the mainland by a private ferry. This ferry crosses Kings Channel between Ballinakill and the island's west side.
The island is also a great place for birdwatching. You can often see different kinds of birds here. Some common species include the grey heron, little egret, Eurasian wigeon, greenshank, and common sandpiper. You might also spot a common kingfisher or a Eurasian jay. In the 1950s and 1960s, many wild geese used to live in the marshy areas of the island.
