The Irish Independents leading journalist Ralph Riegel, originally from Tramore in County Waterford took the opportunity to see first-hand the new Waterford Crystal factory and crystal replica of the Skuldelev Viking Longboat.
The unique crystal longboat, which took over 300 hours to complete was custom built by Master Sculptor Michael Murphy to coincide with The Tall Ships event in Waterford city, that took place over the weekend of the 30th June to 3rd July.
Ralph wrote the following article in Irelands number one broadsheet newspaper, the Irish Independent: