Waterford City kicks off Winterval

Waterford City is connecting with its Viking past and embracing its mutli-cultural present with a new festival celebrating Christmas.

The inaugural Winterval gets underway today and will run for the next 23 days.

Organisers say there is a jam-packed schedule of events, including a 3D sound and light show every evening in Cathedral Square.

Santa kicks things off this evening when he arrives into the city on a Viking longboat.