Located where the Colligan River meets the North Atlantic Ocean, Dungarvan is a charming coastal town in County Waterford. In the 7th century, Saint Garbhann founded a church here and the town’s Irish name, “Dún Garbhán” translates as “Garbhann’s Fort”.
Things to do in Dungarvan
For a dose of local history, head to the Waterford County Museum, which occupies an 18th-century grain store that later served as the town hall. In the permanent exhibition, you’ll find military artefacts, everyday objects and old coins, as well as information related to the Great Famine and the War of Independence. Temporary exhibitions on changing topics are also showcased at the museum.
Nearby is Dungarvan Castle, which was originally founded in 1209 by King John of England to protect the entrance to Dungarvan Harbour. On guided tours, you can learn about the construction of its unique polygonal shell keep and enclosing curtain wall, as well as the castle’s use as a barracks during the Irish Civil War and its destruction by the Irish Republican Army.
If you’re visiting in the summer months, spend a day on the Blue Flag beach at Clonea, a wide strip of golden sand to the east of Dungarvan. Golfers can enjoy a round on the 18-hole championship course of the Dungarvan Golf Club, which overlooks the waters of Dungarvan Bay. The area is traversed by the Waterford Greenway, a 46-kilometre-long cycling and hiking route that follows the course of a former railway track.
Getting around Dungarvan
Dungarvan is around an hour’s drive from Cork and Cork Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular buses connect to Dungarvan and the town centre is compact enough to explore on foot. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the area.