The beautiful village of Dunmore East is considered one of the prettiest villages in the County of Waterford. With its beach so close to the center and its colorful, thatched houses.
Situated on the west side of Waterford Harbour on Ireland’s southeastern coast. Lies within the barony of Gaultier (Gáll Tír – “foreigners’ land” in Irish) a reference to the influx of Viking and Norman settlers in the area.
Its Irish name Dún Mór means “big fort”. Applied to innumerable hillocks where ancient people huddled in the wind and rain. So this one is specifically Dunmore East. It acquired a good harbor in the 19th century and became a fishing port and tourist resort.
Today Dunmore East is a very popular place with tourists, a delightful and fashionable watering place. And also, a very busy fishing port.
The village is situated in a valley, with a gentle slope towards the sea. The houses are built irregularly, without regard to site or uniformity of appearance. Except that they all look at the same point – The Hook Lighthouse, on the opposite coast. You can see the Hook Head Lighthouse from a distance.
Dunmore East is home to half a dozen beautiful beaches and coves. One of the most secluded of these is the stunning Ladies Cove. There you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Waterford coastline. This beach is sheltered, so it makes for the perfect snorkeling location.
Dunmore East Beach is a small beach very appreciated for its coastal landscapes with 100% Irish charm.
At Counsellors’ Strand, Dunmore East Beach, you can enjoy swimming or underwater activities such as snorkeling in the sheltered and picturesque coves. Need to be wary of the tide, which comes right in and covers the beach.
There is also a very popular cliff path to Portally and onto Ballymacaw. About 7 km in total length. This includes what may be Ireland’s longest sea cave at Rathmoylan. Called Dunmore East Cliff Walk.
Dunmore East has several seafood restaurants. Also, there are a number of hotels in Dunmore: The Strand Inn and The Haven Hotel, a historic former Malcomson home, and the Ocean Hotel. There are also caravan sites catering for motorhomes and touring caravans.
The Dunmore harbor is home to an adventure center that offers a range of watersports such as kayaking and diving along with other activities, like rock climbing. You will also find plenty of boat trips from the harbor if you fancy going dolphin spotting or a bit of sea-fishing.
Among the events held in Dunmore East is the annual Bluegrass Festival which takes place at the end of August. During this festival, the village hosts a number of bluegrass groups over the weekend during which almost every bar becomes a music venue from 3 pm until late in the evening.
For more information visit: discoverdunmore.com
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Below are photos I took in September 2021.
