The History of
Dunmore East

The picturesque fishing village of Dunmore East is situated at the entrance to Waterford harbour in the Barony of Gaultier and County of Waterford. The name Dunmore(Dún Mór) means The Great ( or big ) Fort. and was evidently called after the shanooan (Sean Dún). This old fort is one of the old Cliff Forts found along the coast of Ireland and until recent years its location was still clearly visible in the earth works near the Pilots Station on the Cliff above the pier.

The old castle in the village centre is a Norman structure, probably built around the year 1200 A.D. About the year 1641 the village was in the ownership of lord Power when it was retained as a Cromwellian settlement. In Smith's History of Waterford, the village is mentioned as being a prominent fishing port about the year 1745. The fishermens homes were situated in the lower village near the Strand Inn and the boats were launched from the strand there before the harbour was built. The original pier was finished on or about 1824-1830 at a cost of over £100,000, when Dunmore East became became the station for the Steam Packet Ships conveying mail to Dunmore for Waterford from Milford Haven in Wales. The history books tell us that at that time Dunmore East was regarded as a fashionable holiday resort with neat thatched cottages, many of which were rented during the Summer months. In the village centre also stands the Church of Ireland Parish of St.Andrew. Built in 1815, the tower and spire were added in 1881.

The Convent of the Sisters of Mercy stood near the harbour and was originally built as a hotel for the passengers coming ashore from the Packet boats but eventually the Packet Service was transferred to Rosslare, Co.Wexford. The building was used as a convent by the Sisters of Mercy from about 1883 until recently. The building is now the Harbour House Restaurant.

The village has been a popular holiday resort for many years. The Haven Hotel, formerly the Villa Marina, was a holiday home built by the Malcomsons who were deeply involved financially in the American Civil War. The family owned the cotton mill in Portlaw, and imported huge quantities of cotton from America. The Fishermans Hall in the village centre was also built by this family. The extensive woods surrounding the village and the Public Park were presented to Trustees by Lord Waterford in 1926, for puplic use. the Park and the Woods contain many beautiful walks. The Trustees maintain these areas for the use, recreation and enjoyment of the piople of Dunmore East and you are welcome to share and enjoy the beauty of these unique facilities.

Another lovely spot close by is Woodstown, with its beautiful sandy beach. Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis holidayed here in 1967. continuing from Woodstown and about three miles further on, the ruins of Geneva Barracks are seen by the roadside. These buildings were erected in the eighteenth century to house a community of silver workers from Switzerland who had to leave their homeland because of their Huguenot sympathies. The venture failed and the building was used as a prison during the 1798 rebellion. It is referred to in the popular ballad known as "The Croppy boy".

The Catholic church of Killea was built about 1817, and it is very likely that the then parish priest, Father Thomas Hearn, would endeavour to provide a school at the same time as he provided a church for his parishioners. John Sheehan, though living in Dunmore was actually teaching in Killea in 1821. We know that there was no school in Killea in 1814. We know that the school in Killea in which John Sheehan taught was, according to the 1824 Education report, built of stone walls, mud mortar and was thatched. At that time thatch provided the cheapest method of roofing a house and so thatch was used on that Killea school.

From that 1824 Education Report we learn that John Sheehan, the teacher in Killea School, had a house rent free.We know that in Carbally Lorn Ebrington built a girls' school in 1825 with a teacher's residence attached: the probability is therefore that when the Killea School was being built, sometime between 1814-1824 a room or two was added as a residence for the teacher. That would give the teacher of Killea a residence rent free. That such a residence was attached is further proof of its modern construction.

The 1824 Report also tells us that John Sheehan had a salary of £15 a year, which was far higher than other teachers, so it is likely that the local gentry subsidised his salary.. From the census of 1821 we learn that John Sheehan taught a school of 80 boys and 30 girls.

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