Contacts: 
Harbour Master VHF 14  tel no +353 (0)51 312359 
email [email protected]
Pontoon Superintendant           +353 (0)873455623  

Waterford SC    tel no +353 (0)51 383389 or mob +353 (0)876743572 for a mooring

Situated on the western shore of the River Suir estuary this is a favoured port of entry for many skippers from the South West of UK.  It is easy to see why as it offers complete shelter from the prevailing south Westerlies, has a completely uncomplicated entrance and offers all the facilities of a working harbour. 

If the weather is strong from the SE there is a nasty scend into this harbour so you would be wise to consider the many anchorages available on the East side of the estuary but until you get well up the river these are without facilities. The problem with Dunmore was that you were likely to find it packed from wall to wall with fishing vessels, rafting four, five and even six deep on all the walls. Our photo by Shaun McGuire illustrates this dramatically.

The harbour belongs to and is operated by the Irish Government’s Agriculture and Fisheries Department; it’s primary purpose is to service the Fishing industry and whilst it acknowledges “a significant number of visiting leisure craft in the summer months” you should be in no doubt where you stand in the pecking order here. 

Having said that there has been a seismic shift in the attitude here over the last five years. The whole of the inner harbour is given over to the fishing fleet whilst there is now a substantial pontoon laid along the East breakwater for the sole use of leisure craft.

They have also remodelled the Harbour Office building to accommodate toilets and showers for visiting yachtsmen and they are only a couple of years old.

If choosing a spot to anchor be aware that in some South Westerly conditions the swell tends to hook round the East breakwater so that, at anchor, you can end up beam on to the swell. Those of you who have experienced this in an anchorage will know what I mean, and if you haven’t, believe me, you don’t want to.  The best place for a bit of peace is off Lawlors Strand about a quarter of a mile north of the harbour.

There is an up side!  The river up to Waterford is sheltered, well marked and very scenic; it has several little harbours and/or anchorages which can be used for pleasant overnight stops and, at the end of it, the county town of Waterford with all its attractions and served by a very long town pontoon for visitors.  If your fortnight’s summer cruise to Ireland is being wrecked by the old “SW four to five, occasional six, gusting seven” weather then this is the place to rescue it; clew up at Dunmore East for the night then potter up river next morning and you can spend an idyllic fortnight exploring in shelter.  Just have to leave Kinsale for another year!!

We go in to more detail in our notes for Waterford Harbour

The Dunmore East website is at  
gov.ie - Fishery Harbours (www.gov.ie)

The approach is simple and without dangers apart from the overfalls at Hook Head.

As has been said, in adverse conditions, it is as well to maintain a westerly course well to the south of Hook Head until due south of Dunmore East before taking up a Northerly course towards the harbour. 

You should make contact with the HM in the approach on #14 for berthing instructions and, if possible maybe let him know you're coming before you leave where you are!

At night be aware that the red/white sector light on the East Pier marks the old  end of that pier and  one should maintain a northerly course past it until the green sector light on the end of the West pier becomes open from the flashing PHM on the new end of the East Breakwater.

There are two new SHMs to keep you clear of the dangers and moorings to the North and North West of the Harbour mouth. These are now shown on the Admiralty Charts. Positions

Dunmore East Starboard Buoy 1     52 09.064N  006 59.382W   QFl.G

Dunmore East Starboard Buoy 2     52 009.00N  006 59.474W   Fl.G 2s

If anchoring off Lawlors Strand you should note that there is a small rocky promontory extending about fifty yards from the SW corner of the bay which is covered at HW so enter the cove midway between its horns.
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As has been said there is a pontoon on your port side as you swing south into towards the harbour entrance.

At the height of summer you will probably have to raft.  It is important here that the outer boats in the raft make fast to the pontoon not just to the boat inside them because if the wind comes up from the SE there'd be quite a load on the hawsers and you could all end up cuddled up on the beach if the inside boat's warps part!! They are charging (2022) 2 Euros per metre per night and that covers shotre power hook up.

The note in our members comment below that Cruise ships have priority on the pontoon to land their passengers is no longer the case; they have a separate pontoon for the pilot boat and Cruise ship landings

There is a security gate at the top of the pontoon and, if you arrive out of office hours you wil need to phone their mobile to get the re-entry code before you exit the pontoon.

Dunmore has all the facilities (chandlery and engineering etc) that you would expect of a busy harbour but expect to have to carry much of what you need.  The new summer pontoon has 240 volt shore power, free to visitors and water but you may need long leads and hoses. There are now showers,  toilets and a washing machine available in the harbour which are accessed with a key fob.  The harbour does not have fuel but, if you need a major refuel. they might be able to order a fuel bowser to deliver bulk.The Sailing Club also has showers and toilets and their provision for visiting yachties can be found on their website at

http://www.whsc.ie/about-whsc/clubhouse/  and   http://www.whsc.ie/sailing/visiting-boats/

The village has provisions and but no longer has fuel..

There are many good restaurants and pubs, quite a few of which are located nearer to the anchorage at Lawlors Strand than the harbour.