Cathedral Close is situated within Waterford’s Viking Triangle, the oldest part of Ireland’s oldest city, and is therefore surrounded by history. King John was said to have built a residence on this site in 1210. Opposite the north side of the property lies Saint Olaf’s Church, founded by the hiberno-norse inhabitants of the city as early as the 990s. To the east is Christ Church Cathedral, arguably Ireland’s finest example of Georgian ecclesiastical architecture with foundations dating to 1096. The now lush courtyard garden was once part of the medieval graveyards that surrounded the medieval Christ Church Cathedral. To the west is the Franciscan Friary completed in 1834, which was built on the site of an earlier church dating as far back as the late-fifteenth century.

Cathedral Close was founded by Hugh Gore, who was made Church of Ireland Bishop of Waterford and Lismore in 1666. In 1683 Waterford corporation purchased King John’s residence for £30 on behalf of Bishop Gore for the purpose of establishing an almshouse in the city. Bishop Gore’s will of 1690 left the sum of £1,200 to construct the building, which was completed in 1702. Originally the apartments were intended to provide a home for the widows of clergymen, and along with other buildings in Cathedral Square, are the oldest continuously inhabited buildings in the city.

In the late 1980s the interior of the building was entirely renovated to create modern apartments, which was funded through local subscriptions and government grants. Boyd House was acquired by Cathedral Close, increasing the number of apartments to 29.

Today Cathedral Close is home to retired women and men of all faiths and none.