JOHN ROBERTS (1714 - 1796) was responsible for much of Georgian Waterford. He gave Waterford the unique distinction of being the only city in Europe to have the Catholic and Protestant Cathedrals designed by the same person.

Roberts liked the lightness and elegance of the classical style, (reminiscent of ancient Greece) which was in contrast to the darker, moodier gothic interiors of most churches at the time.

In Mark Gorouard's memorable words, John Roberts "achieved the remarkable feat not only of designing two cathedrals in one town, but of giving the two buildings an absolutely different character, each suited to it's own religion. The protestant Cathedral is cool and northern, redolent of lawn sleeves and the communion service, the Catholic Cathedral, with it's forest of huge Corinthian columns, is warm, luscious and Mediterranean".