Dunmore East is a small village on the coast of County Waterford in southeast Ireland. Its Irish name Dún Mór means "big fort", and has been applied to innumerable hillocks where ancient people huddled in the wind and rain, so this one is specifically Dunmore East. It acquired a good harbour in the 19th century, and became a fishing port and tourist resort. In 2022 it had a population of about 1700.
Get in
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See Waterford#Get in for long distance routes by air, rail and road.
Bus Éireann 354 starts from Carrick-on-Suir and makes multiple stops through Waterford. From the Clock Tower on the city quays it continues every couple of hours to Dunmore East, taking 30 min.
Get around
[edit]The village is small enough to walk around. No local taxi.
See
[edit]- The Harbour is surprisingly large for such a small village. In the early 19th century there were grand schemes for a new mail and passenger service from England, and Dunmore was to be the Irish port. A new harbour was completed in 1837, massively over-budget and just in time to be obsolete, as steam-powered ships could wend their way upriver to Waterford city. However it did boost the local fishing industry, and helped with tourism as cruise liners could land passengers here by tender.
- Upper Village is the area north of the harbour. The coast here is rocky, good for angling. The Round Tower is all that's left of the castle built in 1640: it's just a stump.
- Lower Village north of that has the sandy Lawlor's Beach.
Do
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- Dunmore Adventure by the harbour run various water-based activities, including the Wibit inflatable obstacle course.
- The cliff walk follows the coast west for 5 km to Portally Cove, which has road access.
- Golf: Dunmore East Golf Club contains the holiday resort, see Sleep. The course is nine holes, twice around is Par 70.
- Bluegrass Festival is held over the late August holiday weekend.
Buy
[edit]- By the harbour are Centra (daily 6:30AM-10PM) and Costcutter (daily 7AM-9PM).
Eat
[edit]- Star House Chinese restaurant by the harbour is open daily 4:30-10PM.
- East Pier is a fish & chips takeaway at the harbour open daily 12:30-8:30PM.
- The Cliff, Glenville Terrace X91 TP80 (by Strand Inn), ☏ +353 834 176 158. W-Su 4-9PM. Serving Thai food.
- O'Shea's Fish & Chips is a takeaway van usually parked on Glenville Terrace, open M-Sa 4:30-9PM, Su 4:30-8PM.
- Azzurro, Dock Rd X91 XY09, ☏ +353 51 383 141. M-F 5-10PM, Sa 1-10PM, Su 1-8PM. Italian cuisine, the seafood is especially good.
Drink
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- Power's Bar, Dock Rd X91 TVH9, ☏ +353 51 383 318. M-Th 5-11:30PM, F-Su 1PM-midnight. Friendly trad pub, often has live music.
- Aggie Hayes Pub is 1 km north of the village in Auskarra, open W-M.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Avon Lodge, Ballymabin X91 EH50, ☏ +353 51 383 175 775. Smart welcoming B&B.
- 2 Strand Inn, The Strand X91 E295, ☏ +353 51 383 174. Gastropub with 15 rooms. They also run the nearby Townhouse, plus self-catering cottage and glamping cabin. B&B double €150.
- 3 The Haven Hotel, Dock Rd X91 W322, ☏ +353 51 383 150. Upscale hotel with good restaurant in the summer home of the former Lords Lieutenant of Waterford. B&B double €150.
- 4 Dunmore East Holiday & Golf Resort, Dunmore East Golf Club, ☏ +353 87 702 2566. Tourer pitches open Apr-Sept, self-catering lodges all year, no camping. Pitch €40.
- Dunmore East Caravan Park is on L4203 towards Coxtown.
- Somerville B&B is southwest edge of the village on L4203.
Connect
[edit]As of July 2025, Dunmore East and its approach roads have 4G from Eir and Vodafone, and 5G from Three.
Go next
[edit]- Waterford for city amenities and the excellent medieval museum.
- Tramore is a bigger resort with a better beach, as its name implies.
- Lismore has several castles, gardens and mansions, some downright eccentric.