Dunmore East
Modern Day Photos

Here are some recent photos I took in Dunmore East.
Click on them to open a new page, where you can zoom in or download them. 

The Flat Rocks have long been a familiar destination for anglers in Dunmore East. Lying just beyond the Shanoon, their weathered surfaces rise above the water and provide a natural platform from which generations of fishermen have cast their lines. In calm weather and rough, they have drawn those willing to wait patiently and watch the movement of the sea for some sign of a catch.

The construction of the footbridge from the Shanoon has made access considerably easier, carrying visitors safely above the broken rocks below. Although modern in appearance, it has not altered the character of the place. The Flat Rocks remain exposed to the open sea, and conditions there are still governed by wind, tide and swell.

From the rocks, the sound of the water is constant. The sea rises and falls against the shore, while the salt air and open horizon give the place a strong sense of isolation. Some visitors come to fish, while others are content simply to stand and watch the water.

Despite the improved access, the attraction of the Flat Rocks remains much as it always was. They continue to offer a quiet vantage point over the sea and a close connection with the coastline of Dunmore East. Many who visit stay longer than intended and leave already thinking of returning on the next calm day.

Standing on the footbridge, the view opens directly towards the horizon, where sea and sky meet in a long, indistinct line. In clear weather, the colour of the water changes with the light, moving between deep blue, pale grey and silver as the sun passes across its surface.

Below, the tide works continuously around the rocks, rising, falling and turning through narrow channels shaped over countless years. The sound of water against stone carries clearly to the bridge, accompanied by the calls of seabirds circling above and riding the wind from the open sea.

The rocks themselves form a striking part of the scene. Worn by weather, winter storms and the constant movement of the tide, they mark the meeting point between land and ocean and give the coastline much of its distinctive character.

The view from the bridge may not be as widely known as some of the celebrated landscapes of the west coast, but it has an equal strength of its own. Its appeal lies in its openness, simplicity and close connection with the sea.

A few quiet minutes spent there are enough to reveal how much the place contains. The movement of the water, the changing light and the ancient rocks combine to create a landscape shaped slowly by the sea and the passing years.

This photograph, taken from the High Wall, looks across a part of Dunmore East closely associated with the working history of the harbour. Clearly visible are the former Pilot Station and, a short distance in front of it, the gun post dating from the Second World War.

The Pilot Station once played an important role in the movement of shipping through Waterford Harbour. Pilots travelled out to vessels lying beyond the harbour and guided them through the difficult waters of the estuary and upriver towards Waterford. It was demanding work, requiring detailed knowledge of the tides, currents, rocks and channels between the Hook and the city.

Nearby, the wartime gun post served a very different purpose. During the uncertainty of the war years, it formed part of the coastal watch maintained around the harbour approaches. From its elevated position, those stationed there could observe activity at sea and report anything considered unusual or threatening.

The area is quiet today, and both structures have long since lost their original function. Yet from the High Wall it is still possible to appreciate the importance this stretch of shoreline once held. Pilots departed for ships offshore, watchmen scanned the horizon, and the harbour continued its daily work below.

The view from the High Wall is notable not only for its scenery, but also for the surviving evidence of Dunmore East’s maritime and wartime past.

This photograph was taken near the Lighthouse, looking across at the Lower Village and one of the most familiar views in Dunmore East, Councillors Strand. 

At the water’s edge stands the Strand Inn, a long-established feature of the village. Over the years it has welcomed local fishermen, families returning from the beach and visitors experiencing Dunmore East for the first time.

Rising above the Lower Village is Killea Church, positioned prominently at the top of Killea Hill. Its cross can be seen above the surrounding houses, forming an important landmark in the wider landscape.

From this viewpoint, the principal features of the village come together in a single scene: the sea, the strand, the boats, the houses and the hill beyond. Their close relationship helps to explain much of Dunmore East’s distinctive character.

The view is attractive in itself, but it also reflects the long connection between the village and the sea. Life in Dunmore East has always developed around the shoreline, and from the Lighthouse that relationship can be clearly seen.

This photograph, taken from the Island Road, looks down towards the sea, while above a row of traditional thatched cottages still stand. With their thick straw roofs and simple form, the buildings preserve much of the appearance and character of an earlier Dunmore East.

Their position above the shoreline creates a striking contrast between the permanence of the cottages and the changing nature of the sea below. The water may be calm or unsettled according to the weather, but the buildings remain a familiar and enduring feature of the landscape.

This view from the Island Road has retained a strong sense of the village’s older character. It’s easy to imagine others pausing at the same point in earlier years to look across the water. While many parts of Dunmore East have changed, these cottages continue to provide a visible link with the village’s past.

This photograph, taken from the Island Road, looks towards the coastline below the park. With the tide well in, the small coves normally visible among the rocks are almost completely covered, their outlines concealed beneath the water.

The exposed rocks remain the principal feature of the scene. Rising at different angles from the sea, their surfaces have been shaped over centuries by the seas constant motion.

The character of this stretch of coast changes greatly with the weather. In calm conditions, the water moves gently through the rocks and the shoreline appears peaceful. During winter storms, however, waves break heavily against the cliff, transforming the same scene into one of considerable movement and force.

This photo depicts what Saint Andrew’s Church might look like if telegraph poles and wires, electrical junction boxes, road markings, cars and bins had never been invented to spoil the view. Thankfully, these eyesores can be removed using Photoshop, revealing the scene hidden beneath the clutter of modern life.

“The information below has been compiled from a number of online sources.”

SAINT ANDREW’S CHURCH, DUNMORE EAST

Occupying a commanding position where the three roads meet at the top of Long’s Hill, Saint Andrew’s Church has long been one of the defining landmarks of Dunmore East. Its tower and slender spire rise above the surrounding trees and rooftops, giving the building a prominence in the village and making it instantly recognisable from several approaches.

The church was built in 1817 with assistance from the Board of First Fruits, a Church of Ireland body established in 1711 to support the building, repair and enlargement of churches and clergy houses throughout Ireland. Its income came from ecclesiastical taxes known as “first fruits” and “twentieth parts”, which had formerly been payable to the Crown. When the Board was dissolved in 1833, its responsibilities passed to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, but the churches it helped to build remained a lasting feature of the Irish landscape.

It is thought that the site at Dunmore East may have been donated by Lord Waterford. The original building was later enlarged between 1880 and 1881, when the transept, chancel and tower were added. These works reflected the growth and increasing prosperity of the local Church of Ireland community during the nineteenth century and gave Saint Andrew’s much of the appearance it retains today.

Built largely from locally quarried red sandstone, the church has a distinctive warmth and texture. Its pointed windows, carefully worked stone dressings and elegant spire lend it a Gothic character. The interior preserves many traditional features, including timber pews, stained glass, stone wall monuments and an exposed timber roof.

The graveyard surrounding the church has been in use since about 1815. Its varied memorials record generations of local families and form an important part of the historical character of the site.

More than two centuries after its construction, Saint Andrew’s remains a place of worship, remembrance and community. It continues to stand as one of the most attractive and enduring historic buildings in Dunmore East. 

Here we see the beam trawler Rackard, WD 11, making her way ashore at Dunmore East, no doubt laden with a large catch. The photograph was taken in August 2024 from the wall on Dock Road, just before the park gate when approaching from the harbour side of the village.

A number of small yachts remain visible just outside the harbour, a reminder that the summer sailing season was still under way. Beyond them, the Hook Peninsula forms the distant coastline, with the Saltee Islands just visible farther out to sea.

The wall along Dock Road is a well-known vantage point for photographing vessels entering and leaving the harbour. On the day this image was taken, several others had stopped at the same spot to also capture the arrival of the Rackard.

This photograph shows a line of small boats tied up alongside the Western Wharf. In the background is the larger vessel Jean Baptiste, WD 25.

The Waterford Harbour Sailing Club building is just visible on the left, with the former South and East Co-op premises beside it. That building is now occupied by the Dunmore East Adventure Centre.

There was considerable activity in the water off Stoney Cove on the day the photograph was taken, with children enjoying the sheltered area behind the sailing club house. It’s a scene that reflects how much the character and use of the harbour have changed over the years.