( Overview
/ Two Bullocks on a Boat in Eire
We’d read that Dungarvan is a great place to visit, but tricky on a boat because of strong tides, a narrow, shallow, twisting channel and a berth that dries out. Just what we’re used to on the East Coast, and perfect for our Southerly with its lifting keel (did we mention we have a lifting keel?).
Leaving Dunmore East.
Robin Red Breast Rock. A charted, but unmarked rock, near Red Head.
From the sea the sheltered, yet treacherous, Tramore Bay can be easily confused with the safe haven of the Suir Estuary. In January 1816 the transport ship Sea Horse foundered in the bay with the 2nd battalion of the 59th Regiment of Foot on board. 292 men and 71 women and children perished.
After the sinking of the Sea Horse, Lloyd’s of London funded the building of piers and the erection of pillars on the two headlands as a visual aid to prevent similar calamities.
In 1823 two were built on Brownstown Head….
….and three on Newtown Head.
The Metal Man, on the central pillar on Newtown Head, is a 3 metre cast-metal figure of a sailor pointing seawards. According to local lore, he is said to warn seafarers away from the dangerous shallows by calling out, “Keep off, keep off, good ship from me, for I am the rock of misery”.
Another legend surrounding the Metal Man is that if a woman hops backwards on one bare foot around the base of his pillar three times, she’ll be married within a year. Either that or she’ll be in traction with a broken back!
It’s very difficult to capture the stunning scenery of the Emerald Isle coast.
Another unmarked set of rocks. Carricknamoan and Carricknagaddy.
Ballinacourty Lighthouse first flashed in 1858.
A beautiful evening to wend our way up to Dungarvan Harbour, using the buoyed channel leading to the Colligan River.
Having been told there was loads of room on the pontoon, we were surprised to see it crowded when we arrived. It wasn’t easy to ‘hang around’ either as the tide was so strong.
St Augustine’s Abbey Dungarvan was built circa 1290 by monks from Clare Priory, Suffolk. The tower was added in the 15th century.
As it turned out, we’d arrived just as the sailing club were leaving for their evening sail, and picking up crew from the pontoon. The pontoon emptied very quickly and some members kindly helped us berth, and greeted us to the town.
Davitt’s Quay. A perfect spot right in the middle of town with a SupaValue and too many pubs to count just over the road.
A shot of the chart plotter showing the depths.
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