Dungarvan is a pretty little town on the south coast of Ireland, southeast of Waterford, and is the only place on this island where remains of woolly mammoths have been discovered. Who says we’re the only species to enjoy the seaside? In 1649 Cromwell marched his army into the heart of this coastal town and may well have intended to destroy it as he did so many other Irish towns and villages. Legend has it that he left the town standing because a local woman offered him a goblet of wine as he marched through the city gates. Sláinte.
It is home to a beautiful little harbour that sparkles and reflects and dances at high tide, but, if you’re as adept as I am at lousy timing and arrive at the peak of low tide, it will look a little more, umm, shall I say, sludgy?
Now I’m not one to shy away from a challenge, so I tried all kinds of tricks, including attempting to camouflage the worst of the mud with colourful autumn leaves…
…but in the end I decided the best approach would be to embrace the muddy landscape and celebrate beached boats.
Thankfully, Dungarvan Castle remained unaffected by the low tide, standing proudly at the mouth of the River Colligan. ready to ward of invaders navigating the watery channel by boat…
…at high tide, that is. At low tide, invaders, knee deep in mud carrying their boats, wouldn’t have stood a chance.
Where's my backpack? 
Just visited Dungarvan within the last month, Ailsa. Happy coincidence. We ate lunch there and met a local who gave us scads of information and local colour.
Oh wow, if I’d been a bit earlier we might have run into each other, Lynne, it’s a lovely spot, isn’t it. Are you still in the area? I just saw your tree tunnel – wow! 🙂
No, we’re back home but spent 5 weeks in Scotland, Ireland and north Wales. Are you in Ireland? Have you been to the dark hedges?
I’m in Wexford at the moment, no I haven’t been to the dark hedges – those are the ones in Country Antrim, right? Is that where you took those amazing photos? I have GOT to go! 🙂
It is yes, you should go. 🙂
Hi Ailsa – good to see your post. I was looking for the Travel Challenge today and could not find it. Was hoping that you are ok.
Ahh, just posted it now, got a little behind, oops! 🙂 xxx
Just saw it – great theme!
Your words and pictures make me want to go there!!!
I hope you get to visit sometime, Carol. The south coast of Ireland is a very lovely place. I will be writing more about it in weeks to come. xxx
Pretty place and a great history
Very pretty indeed, Debbie, even at low tide 😉
Haha, I am always getting it wrong where tides are concerned. I have recently started to check the tide timetables! Lovely pastel coloured cottages and beautifully captured in those last two photos of the mud and river. I really do need to return to Ireland.
Oh, and your photos looked so familiar I went to check on mine from my trip there in 2003 and yes, I have passed through Dungarvan and even have a few (bad) images of the harbour! Slightly more water, but a much darker sky!
I love those pastel houses that fill up so many Irish villages, the colours just pop, especially against rainy Irish skies. How much fun that you recognized those cottages from your trip in 2003. Isn’t the south coast lovely? The thing I love about the drive to Dungarvan is that blast of sea air you get when the coastline first pops into view, there’s nothing quite like it. 🙂
We drove from Dublin around the south coast for three days, the weather wasn’t great but I loved the landscapes from what I could see 🙂
Actually the low tide adds to the medieval feel to the images. Love this post
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