Dunmore East facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dunmore East
Dún Mór
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Town
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Dunmore East harbour and lighthouse
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 Dunmore East
Location in Ireland
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| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Munster |
| County | County Waterford |
| Elevation | 40 m (130 ft) |
| Population
(2022)
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1,731 |
| Irish Grid Reference | S687007 |
Dunmore East (which means "east big fort" in Irish) is a lovely village in County Waterford, Ireland. It is a popular spot for both tourists and fishing. You can find it on the west side of Waterford Harbour, right on Ireland's southeastern coast. The area is part of a place called Gaultier, which means "land of the foreigner." This name reminds us of the Viking and Norman settlers who came here a long time ago.
Contents
Discover Dunmore East's Past
Ancient Beginnings: The Great Fort
Long, long ago, people from the Iron Age built a special fort here. It was a "promontory fort," meaning it was on a piece of land sticking out into the sea. This fort was at a spot called Shanoon, which means "Old Cave." Underneath this spot, there's even a real cave! Because of this strong fort, the place became known as Dún Mór, which means "Great Fort."
Castles and Churches: A Look Back
In 1640, a powerful person named Lord Power built a castle on the cliff. It was near the beach, not far from St. Andrew's Church. Over time, the castle started to fall apart. Today, only one tower is left standing. There's also an old church called Killea, built around the 1100s. Just one wall of it remains, across from the modern Holy Cross church.
Fishing Village Roots: How Dunmore East Grew
Around 1745, Dunmore East was already known as a fishing port. The fishermen lived in the Lower Village, close to the Strand Inn. They used to launch their boats from Lawlor's Beach before the big harbour was built. Records show that by 1776, about fifty fishing boats were working from Dunmore East!
Building the Harbour: A Major Change
In 1812, an important decision was made in London. They wanted a brand new place for ships carrying passengers and mail to arrive in Ireland. Dunmore East was chosen! In 1814, big changes began when Alexander Nimmo, a Scottish engineer, started building the new harbour. He built a huge pier (a long wall into the sea) with a beautiful lighthouse at the end. The project cost a lot of money, but it created a safe, sheltered harbour.
At first, the harbour was meant for mail ships. But later, steamships could easily travel up the winding river to Waterford City. So, the mail service moved there. This meant Dunmore East's new harbour became very important for fishing. It also helped the village become a popular place for tourists. Today, even large cruise ships sometimes visit this lovely port.
The Haven Hotel and Fisherman's Hall
The Haven Hotel, which used to be called the Villa Marina, was once a family home. It belonged to David Malcomson and his wife Nanette. Nanette Malcomson also had the Fisherman's Hall built in the village. She did this to remember her son Joseph, who was a fisherman and died young. She made sure the Hall was a warm, dry place where fishermen could read newspapers and relax. No alcohol was allowed there.
Sports and Activities in Dunmore East
Dunmore East is a great place for sports! It has many clubs, from sailing to Gaelic Football.
- Gaelic Football: The Gaultier GAA club is just outside the village. It was started in 1927 and has many young members.
- Soccer: Dunmore FC is the local soccer club.
- Sailing: The Waterford Harbour Sailing Club was founded in 1934. It's a fantastic place for sailing enthusiasts.
Dunmore East Harbour: A Busy Place
The harbour in Dunmore East is one of Ireland's five main fishing harbours. It's the second busiest for fish landings after Killybegs. In summer, many visiting yachts enjoy using the special pontoon here. There was a plan to make the harbour even bigger for more water activities, but it hasn't happened yet.
Did you know that the first official woman crew member in a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Lifeboat was based right here in Dunmore East?
Enjoying Tourism in Dunmore East
Dunmore East is a wonderful place for visitors. It offers lots of fun things to do:
- Boating and Sailing: With its excellent harbour, it's perfect for water sports.
- Adventure Centre: The Dunmore East Adventure Centre offers exciting activities.
- Golf: There's a golf course high up on the cliff, with amazing views of the bay.
- Beaches: You can relax on beautiful beaches like Lawlor's Beach.
- Food and Stay: The village has great seafood restaurants. You can stay at hotels like The Strand Inn or The Haven Hotel. There are also places for motorhomes and caravans.
- Bluegrass Festival: Every year in late August, Dunmore East hosts a lively bluegrass music festival. Many bands play in the local bars, making the village buzz with music!
- Walking Trails: You can explore lovely walking paths in the woods around the village. There's also a popular cliff path that goes to Portally and Ballymacaw, about 7 kilometers long. This path even passes what might be Ireland's longest sea cave at Rathmoylan!
Global Connections: Twin Towns
Dunmore East has a special connection with another village far away. It is twinned with Clohars-Carnoët in France. This means they share friendly ties and learn from each other.
Getting Around: Transport
It's easy to get to Waterford City from Dunmore East by road. The 354 bus route connects the village to Waterford.
See also
In Spanish: Dunmore East para niños
