Dungarvan Information
Dungarvan is a pretty harbour town situated on the south coast of County Waterford. It's a busy market town and an excellent holiday centre and its origins can be traced back in history to the stone age. It is recorded that about the third century A.D, a tribe called the 'Deise' settled on the site where Dungarvan now stands.
The name, Dungarvan, derives from a monastery which was built here in the 7th century by St.Garbhan. Norman Prince John came here in 1185 and had fortifications built like Dungarvan Castle the remains of which can still be seen today beside the river.
In Abbeyside, the town's eastern suburb, you'll see welll preserved ruins of the Augustinian Priory founded in the 13th century. The sixty foot high square tower, resting on groined arches, was adapted as a belfry for the adjoining Catholic Church. A tomb beneath east window of the Priory bears the inscription 'Donald McGrath 1490'.
Just about three miles from the town you can see another monument to a 'McGrath' but this stone commemorates not a man but a famous greyhound called 'Master McGrath' who won the Waterloo Cup three times in 1868, 1869 and 1871.
Deep-sea and on-shore angling are particularly good in the Dungarvan area and fully equipped boats are available. You can catch cod, coalfish, conger, ling, mackerel, shark, pollock and many others. Salmon, trout and coarse fishing are available nearby.
There's no shortage of sporting activities in Dungarvan with outlets for golf, tennis, squash, board sailing, yachting and of course, swimming. Numerous sandy beaches are within a 15 mile radius. Particular mention much be made of Clonea, less than two miles from the town centre, with its soft golden sand making it the perfect place for all the family to laze away the long summer days.
Dungarvan is an ideal place from which to tour the country because, within easy driving distance, you can enjoy spectacular seascapes, green placid river valleys and wild rugged heather covered mountains.