Summer Camp in Dunmore East

Dunmore East is a popular tourist and fishing village in County Waterford, Ireland, located on the west side of Waterford Harbour.  Iron Age people established a promontory fort overlooking the sea. Henceforth the place was referred to as Dun Mor, the Great Fort.  Fish was an important part of the people’s diet, and for hundreds of years a fishing community lived there.

In 1640, Lord Power of Curraghmore built a castle on the cliff overlooking the strand about two hundred metres from St. Andrew’s Church, of which just one tower now remains.

The old church of Killea is thought to have been built in the twelfth century and one wall still stands, opposite the Roman Catholic church of The Holy Cross, at the top of Killea hill. With the construction of a great sheltered harbour between 1812-32, Dunmore East gradually became an important fishing port. It also then developed into a very popular tourist resort, and it is now a favourite port of call for large cruise liners visiting the south east of Ireland.  The harbour is one of the five designated National Fishery Harbours. In the summer months it is popular with visiting yachts. Tourism in Dunmore East is supported by boating and sailing facilities, holiday homes, traditional pubs, a golf course and several hotels. The local golf course is located on the cliff top overlooking the bay.

Dunmore East is home to several seafood restaurants, and there are two principal hotels in Dunmore, The Strand Inn and The Haven.  The Haven was the summer home of the Malcolmson family of Portlaw, who were wealthy millers and shipbuilders.

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.

Dunmore East is home to many sporting clubs, from sailing to Gaelic Football.