The Five Beaches
Counsellor's Strand, Lady's Cove, Portally, Woodstown and the Copper Coast coves — which suits swimming, kids and dogs.
Beach guide →Things to Do
The Doneraile cliff walk, the kittiwake colony, kayaking and sailing from the harbour, and the best day trips.
Plan the day →Food & Drink
Seafood straight off the boats — where the locals actually eat and drink in the village.
Where to eat →Getting Here
From Waterford, Dublin and the Rosslare ferries — plus where to park when you arrive.
Directions →The Village
Why people keep coming back
Dunmore East is not a resort — it is a real fishing village that happens to be beautiful. Trawlers land hake, haddock, crab and langoustines below the village most days; thatched cottages line the upper road; and the red sandstone cliffs between the coves hold one of Ireland's best-known urban seabird colonies. Twenty minutes from Waterford City, it works as a day trip, a weekend, or the base for a week on the Waterford coast.
The routine the locals swear by: a swim or the Doneraile cliff walk in the morning, the harbour in the afternoon, and dinner on the waterfront — see where to eat.
Quick answers
Is Dunmore East worth visiting?
Yes — a beach morning, the Doneraile cliff walk, a wander around the working harbour and a seafood lunch fills a day comfortably, and it is only 20 minutes from Waterford City.
How far is Dunmore East from Waterford City?
About 20 minutes by car on the R684 — roughly 16 km southeast of the city.
What is Dunmore East famous for?
Its working fishing harbour — one of Ireland's five designated fishery harbours — thatched cottages, sheltered swimming coves and red sandstone cliffs on the Waterford coast.