25. Sea scenes from Dunmore East, Co. Waterford - Dunmore East Harbour fishing boats, memorial to people lost at sea and coastal walking from Dunmore East Harbour to Portally and Ballymacaw inlets

SCENES from IRELAND, County Waterford

See also More pictures around Dunmore East Village and beaches

All My Irish Scenes and Notes

Notes on Dunmore East Harbour

25a Scenes at the start of the walk around Dunmore East Harbour

First, the striking memorial sculpture to all those from the area lost at sea from Dunmore East and surrounding area.

Dunmore East Harbour and Boats

General view of Dunmore East Harbour, Co. Waterford

There is always a fishing net being mended on the quayside of Dunmore East Harbour

Dunmore East harbour is a long‑established fishing and tourist harbour on the west side of Waterford Harbour, shaped by centuries of coastal settlement and a major 1960s harbour redevelopment that modernised quays and facilities for both fishing and leisure craft.

Overview of Dunmore East harbour

Dunmore East is a fishing and tourist village on the southeastern coast of Ireland, situated on the west side of Waterford Harbour in County Waterford; the name means “east big fort” and the harbour is dominated by a prominent lighthouse and sheltered piers that define the village waterfront.

Early history and maritime roots of Dunmore East harbour

The headland at Dunmore East has been occupied since the Iron Age, when people built promontory forts for defence; the coastal location naturally fostered a long tradition of fishing, with generations relying on the sea for food and trade long before modern harbour works were built.

Designer of Dunmore East harbour

Alexander Nimmo (1783–1832), a Scottish civil engineer active in Ireland, prepared the designs for the harbour and associated works at Dunmore East. Nimmo was engaged in a range of coastal and harbour projects in Ireland in the early 1800s and is widely credited with shaping the harbour layout and lighthouse scheme at Dunmore East.

When was Dunmore East harbour built and why?

The principal harbour pier at Dunmore East was constructed in the early 1810s and is usually dated to about 1814 (the tourist sign says 1818); it was laid out on a quasi L‑shaped plan to extend into Dunmore Bay and provide sheltered berthing. The works were originally conceived to create a sheltered steampacket and packet‑boat port, improving communications and maritime links for the southeast coast of Ireland.

Form, later works and alterations to Dunmore East harbour

The original pier was built in coursed cut stone with battered walls, steps to the water and cast‑iron mooring posts; the structure was later renovated in 1969, when some sections of the parapet and quay were repaired or replaced in mass concrete to suit modern harbour needs. Nimmo's harbour and lighthouse remain the defining early‑19th‑century fabric, though the harbour has been adapted over time to serve a mixed fleet of inshore fishing boats, leisure craft and visiting yachts.

Significance of Dunmore East harbour

Nimmo's design transformed Dunmore East from a small fishing locality into a planned sheltered harbour with strategic and commercial ambitions for the region. The surviving pier and harbour layout are important examples of early 19th‑century civil engineering in Ireland and reflect broader efforts at the time to improve coastal communications and fisheries infrastructure.

20th century harbour redevelopment of Dunmore East harbour

For much of its life Dunmore East was a traditional fishing port, famous for seasonal herring fisheries and onshore processing such as salting and kippering. In the early 1960s the government commissioned a major harbour modernisation scheme that transformed quays, berthing and shore facilities—this programme both improved safety and capacity for trawlers and altered the character of harbour life for local families and businesses.

Facilities and harbour use of Dunmore East harbour today

The harbour area now combines working quays for fishing vessels, sheltered berths for leisure craft, and a lighthouse/pilot station that mark the entrance to the estuary; the waterfront retains the physical traces of its past—old piers, harbour lodge buildings, and quayside structures—alongside newer concrete quays and moorings used by modern boats. Local accounts and memoirs describe a busy harbour atmosphere in the mid‑20th century with a resident harbour master and a close‑knit community centred on the pier.

Fishing fleet and commercial activity of Dunmore East harbour

Historically the harbour supported a mix of inshore boats and larger trawlers during peak seasons, with shore‑based processing and packing; after the 1960s improvements the harbour continued to serve commercial fishing while also accommodating recreational angling and visiting yachts, so the waterfront now supports a blended economy of fishing, tourism and marine services.

Community memory and visitor experience of Dunmore East harbour

Photographic and oral histories emphasise the harbour's social life—the quay as workplace, meeting place and market—and the visual appeal that draws visitors today: colourful boats, the lighthouse viewpoint, and the compact village clustered above the piers. Local memoirs recall the harbour master’s role and the everyday rhythms of harbour life, preserving personal perspectives on how the place changed through the 20th century.

Fishing boat trawler WD 39 SALTEES QUEST (WD39 registered Wexford) in Dunmore East Harbour (in 2024)

Fishing boat trawler W.297 CARONIA II in Dunmore East Harbour, in 2024 (W297 registered Waterford built in Denmark 1981)

The beam trawler net of W.297 CARONIA II, and in harbour summer 2025

Mending the fishing nets on the quayside of Dunmore East Harbour

The Port of Waterford  PILOT boat PORT LAIRGE in Dunmore East Harbour, used for escorting large vessels to the freight container port at Belview container port on the River Suir.

The lifeboat and reserve pilot vessel

W.243

On the right is the fishing boat BOY CONOR

The boats D.153 GIRL GERALDINE and BOY EVIN

Fishing vessel C.229 KINGFISHER

On the way down from the village to start the cliff walk, a good general view of Dunmore East Harbour and fishing boats.

The Dunmore East Memorial sculpture, a monument commissioned by the people of Dunmore East in remembrance of loved ones, those lost in local waters and those lost at sea.

Views of the Hook Lighthouse and rising moon viewed from Dunmore East - near the start of the cliff walk.

The RNLI lifeboat shop above Dunmore East harbour and one of the memorials on the harbour wall.

The RNLI lifeboat at Dunmore East

Red sandstone cliffs across from the harbour at Dunmore East.

The main breakwater pier at Dunmore East harbour

Plaque commemorating Alexander Nimmo, 1783-1832, engineer and surveyor who designed and built the original harbour walls of Dunmore East.

The old lighthouse of Dunmore East Harbour

The cliffs near Dunmore East Harbour, Hooke Head lighthouse in the distance

More pictures of the boats in Dunmore East Harbour

Left: Fishing vessel D 153 Girl Geraldine in Dunmore East harbour (boat D153 registered in Dublin)

Right: Fishing vessels WD30 Mary Kate and WD135 Kennedy in Dunmore East Harbour

Left: Fishing vessels WD25 St Jean Baptiste and G688 Ocean Harvester II in Dunmore East harbour

Right: Fishing vessels WD5 Verlaine and N29 Sancta Maria in Dunmore East harbour

Left: Fishing vessel S550 Skibbereen in Dunmore East Harbour

Right: Fishing vessels DA22 Argonaut IV (a trawler) and W297 Caronia II in Dunmore East harbour

The stern of two stern trawlers including D153 Girl Geraldine

stern of S 550

The boat Tudor Lady, Waterford registered, a small fishing vessel for catching crabs and lobsters, Dunmore East harbour

The little fishing vessel THOMAS D. WD256, crabs and lobster fishing, working out of Dunmore East harbour.

Cork registered fishing vessel C425 Dever Ar More, a trawler in dry dock at Dunmore East Harbour.

A small fishing boat leaving Dunmore East Harbour, viewed from the Dunmore East Cliff walk.

You can fish off the harbour wall or go out in a small boat from Dunmore East harbour on a fishing trip.

There are still some small fishing boats operating out of Dunmore East harbour.

Dunmore East Harbour, from where you can start the lovely cliff walk.

Cruise ships are regular visitors to Dunmore East.

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The old coast guard station at Dunmore East, the headland is the site of an ancient iron-age fort and a good car park to, handy if doing the Dunmore East cliff walk.

Some of the flat rocks, a popular fishing spot in Dunmore East, the cliff walk runs high up on the left, NOT down on the rocks!

wader birds on the rocks near Dunmore East.

 

Looking across to Hooke Head lighthouse from the coast near Dunmore East as a fishing boat heads for the harbour.

You can just see the tiny point of Hook Head lighthouse

The memorial at Dunmore East to those local people, visitors and fishermen lost at sea.

 

Fishing boat W227 returning to Dunmore East Harbour.

An Irish fisheries protection vessel passing Hook Head Lighthouse, viewed from above Dunmore East harbour.

Hook Head and Hook Head Lighthouse in County Wexford, the light is automated and the lighthouse is now a museum and so its life continues in many ways even after 800 years!

Hook Head Lighthouse (telephoto shot from Dunmore East near the golf course).

Fishing off the flat rocks is popular at Dunmore East, quite safe for fishermen as long as no big waves!

The flat rocks at Dunmore East

Small lobster fishing boat off the coast Dunmore East

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A cruise ship calling in!

25b. Coastal Walk from Dunmore East to Portally and Ballymacaw See also page 12 for more pictures around Dunmore East   The Dunmore East coastal cliff walk begins above the harbour on the headland, where there is a good car park.     Leave the village from the new car park on the headland above the harbour. The footpath sign for the Dunmore East cliff walk to Portally which continues to Ballymacaw. The good refurbished footpath, but beware ... ... of the dangerous cliffs between Dunmore East and Portally. Great views of the sea and cliffs form the footpath. The little inlet seat and beach of Portally. Along the coastal sandstone cliff path to Tramore, is an excellent coastal walk, though all the way is quite long, best to go from Dunmore East Harbour to Portally and Ballymacaw and return the same route. The Dunmore East Harbour to Portally and Ballymacaw coastal walk is a cliff‑top trail along the Waterford coast, offering dramatic sea views, secluded coves, and rich wildlife. Portally is a sheltered pebble‑sand cove ideal for swimming, while Ballymacaw is a larger inlet with a history of shipwrecks and coastal activity. The Coastal Walk Route: Begins at Dunmore East Harbour, signposted near the Old Convent, and follows the cliffs westward. Distance: Dunmore East → Portally Cove: ~2 km (easy, ~30–40 minutes). Dunmore East → Ballymacaw Cove: ~7–8 km (moderate, ~1.5–2 hours). Terrain: Cliff paths, hedgerows, and fields. Some sections have steps and inclines, so moderate fitness is helpful. Scenery: Panoramic views across Waterford Harbour to Hook Head Lighthouse, the world’s oldest operational lighthouse. Rugged red sandstone cliffs (“pudding stone”) carved into inlets and coves. Rich birdlife: kittiwakes, fulmars, choughs, cormorants, and shags. Seals and dolphins are occasionally spotted offshore. Portally Cove Setting: A small, secluded inlet with high cliffs on either side, creating a sheltered atmosphere. Beach: Pebble above the tide line, sandy at low tide. The beach disappears at high tide. Swimming: Popular spot, best around high tide, but swimmers must beware of strong currents beyond the headlands. Wildlife: Known for otters, seabirds, and occasional seals. Atmosphere: Quiet and picturesque, ideal for picnics or a short rest on the walk. Ballymacaw Cove Setting: A larger inlet west of Portally, with a rugged coastline and dramatic cliffs. History: Site of several shipwrecks, including tragedies in the 19th century (notably January 1862, when multiple wrecks occurred along the Waterford coast). Associated with local folklore and maritime stories. A steel walkway and concrete platform were added in the 20th century, visible in historic photographs. Community: The area has pubs and a small local settlement, making it a social stop for walkers. Landscape: Offers sweeping views inland and out to sea, with hedgerows, sea pinks, and cliff‑top fields. Why This Walk Stands Out Heritage + Nature: Combines maritime history (Nimmo’s harbour at Dunmore, shipwrecks at Ballymacaw) with natural beauty (wildlife, cliffs, coves). Flexibility: Shorter option to Portally for casual walkers, longer trek to Ballymacaw for those seeking a challenge. Atmosphere: Peaceful, less crowded than urban trails, with a strong sense of coastal community and history. In summary: The Dunmore East to Portally and Ballymacaw walk is a scenic cliff path showcasing Hook Head views, red sandstone cliffs, seabirds, and hidden coves. Portally offers a sheltered pebble‑sand beach, while Ballymacaw adds maritime history and rugged drama to the journey. Fishing off the rocks on the coast near Dunmore East.     The coastal path has many fine spectacular views of the River Suir estuary where it meets the see off Dunmore East.   The coastal path is potentially quite dangerous, so take care!     Sea pink on the Dunmore East to Portally coastal cliff walk.         The coastal path is east to follow. TOP OF PAGE Lots of wild flowers on the cliff walk from Dunmore East. - Lots of erosion!     Gorgeous sea scenery and a great fresh air ramble from Dunmore East. Seabirds on the rocks, viewed from the Dunmore East coastal footpath. The coastguard search and rescue helicopter and a light aircraft from Waterford airport, viewed from the Dunmore East coastal footpath   -     a fake prehistoric stone!   View just before Portally on the cliff path from Dunmore East   Portally beach. a lovely quiet sheltered spot for a swim and a picnic.   View overlooking Portally beach and inlet from the Dunmore East coastal footpath, which continues on the left to Ballymacaw.   Rambling along quite amicably you reach Portally.   Portally is a tiny inlet and quite secluded and untouched by the popular bustling Dunmore East beaches. Then walking on you come to the inlet cove of Ballymacaw.   Further along is the small beach and inlet of Ballymacaw on the Dunmore East coastal footpath   Further along from Portally you come across the equally small and peaceful inlet of Ballymacaw     More views of Portally beach You can walk on along the coastal path further towards Tramore but the path became unclear, so after a bit we turned back and returned to Dunmore East.   TOP OF PAGE   Theoretically you can walk all the way to Tramore, but I've never found the route, I think you can walk to the 'metal men' in the far distance but there is a sea inlet between them and the Strand.  The huge and popular Tramore Strand (beach), excellent breakers when the wind is up a bit. On the distant right are the 'metal men' which are navigation points for fishing vessels entering Dunmore East or Tramore harbours. More shots of fishing boats in Dunmore East Harbour - summer 2025 Trawler W.297 CARONIA II and motor lugger G.482 Boy Davie   trawler WILMA and fishing boat WD.5 VERLAINE   WD.5 VERLAINE (Wexford registered)     S.550 KERIOLET   MFV Z.67 RUBENS going out from harbour passing BA.72 HALCYON coming into harbour   Entering harbour BA.72 HALCYON registered in Ballantrae   The small fishing and lobster boats in Dunmore East   Fishing vessels WD.135 KENNEDY and W.110 EXCEL moored up   The small fishing boat SO.378 WHITE HEATHER hit rocks, limped back into Dunmore East harbour and then sank.  The boat was lifted out of the harbour, the bow area of the hull repaired and then re-floated Ballymacaw, County Waterford, South-East Ireland: Ballymacaw is a quiet inlet on the coast between Dunmore East and Tramore. There are steps down to the rocks where fishing boats were once moored, but now very much of a backwater. However it is a good spot for a break in coastal walking between Dunmore East and the resort of Tramore. Up the road from the little beach and picnic spot is Dower's Bar pub and shop for an ice-cream or something stronger.

See also more pictures around Dunmore East Village and beaches

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All My Irish Scenes and Notes

Notes on Dunmore East Harbour

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