Ardmore, County Waterford
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| Ardmore Aird Mhór |
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| Location | ||
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| Irish grid reference X188776 |
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| Statistics | ||
| Province: | Munster | |
| County: | County Waterford | |
| Elevation: | 1m | |
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Population (2006) |
412 | |
Ardmore (Irish: Aird Mhór, meaning "Great Height") is a fishing village in County Waterford, Ireland situated not far from Youghal on the south coast of Ireland, with a population of around 330, although this varies with the tourist season. It is believed to be the oldest Christian settlement in Ireland. Saint Declan lived in the region at some time in the period 350 – 450 AD and Christianised the area before the coming of Saint Patrick.[1]
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[edit] Features
The village includes two hotels, a number of pubs and restaurants, a petrol station, a pier and slipway, and one store. There are also one or two sports clubs and a primary school. It boasts a mile-long beach, commonly termed the Main Beach, and several other beaches, such as Goat Island, Ballyquin, the Curragh, and Whiting Bay. Ardmore is a popular seaside resort, but has had difficulty maintaining its Blue Flag beach status due to an outdated sewage system (early works on updating the system commenced 2006) and modern farming practices which result in run-off from fields and subsequently into the bay, especially at the village end of the beach. Paradoxically, the absence of an adequate modern sewerage system has slowed down the pace of housing development in Ardmore compared with some other seaside villages in the southeast. Recently a new hotel was completed, replacing the older Cliff Hotel .[citation needed] In 1992 this village was the overall winner of the Irish Tidy Towns Competition.
[edit] History
Within the last few hundred years, Ardmore has lost its status as a fishing village as fishing laws became more curtailing and the traditional way of life was given little consideration by the EU and national lawmakers. Vital harbour development remains unfunded and larger fishing vessels are unable to utilise the present docking facilities due to a lack of water depth. The Samson, a crane ship, was wrecked on Ram Head, near the village, during a December storm in 1987 as it was being towed from Liverpool to Malta. Its wreck is now a popular diving spot. There are many other older wrecks in the bay area including the Marechal de Noailles, Bandon, Peri, Scotland, Sextusa, Peg Tranton etc. and more recently Anne Sophie, and Fee des Ondes. The remaining keel of this latter wreck may still be seen at low tide on the main beach.
[edit] Places of interest
On a hill above the village is a well-preserved 30m high, 12th-century round tower and the ruins of a Cathedral and oratory dating from the 13th and 8th centuries respectively. One of the outer walls of the Cathedral features some stone carvings retrieved from an earlier 9th-century building. The carvings include a very early image of a harp, and images of Adam and Eve in the garden also a representation of "Solomon's judgement"[1] The Cathedral also contains two Ogham stones, which rest in small alcoves.Some elements of the original structure can still be seen within the building The present Church of Ireland church (St. Paul's) is close to this complex.
There is also a cliff path beginning near the Cliff House Hotel and ending back in the main street. The walk which has marker posts erected along the route, passes an old remodelled Coastguard Station, St Declan's Cell and Holy Well,a ruined church,the Samson Wreck, an abandoned coast guard lookout from 1939/45 and another, much older, lookout tower, further along there is another well with stone canopy. The Round Tower Complex is atop the hill above the village. This is a very scenic and popular walk much frequented by locals and visitors to the village.
[edit] Religion
The present Roman Catholic church is the main church in the Parish of Ardmore and Grange, however due to a lack of priests in the area, the Parish Priest, Father Milo, serves that parish The church is often the site of parish bazaars and markets, along with the community centre, Saint Declan's hall.
There is also an old Church of Ireland church in the village which is part of the parish of Youghal.
[edit] People
- The Anglo-Irish novelist Molly Keane lived in Ardmore for many years and was buried there after her death in 1996.[2]. She is buried beside the Church of Ireland church.
- The American novelist Nora Roberts has based three of her books in Ardmore, making it a popular destination for American tourists.
- The distinguished writer and journalist Fergal Keane spent many family summer holidays in Ardmore, which he describes as "heaven on earth". [3]
- The English writer and radical journalist Claud Cockburn moved to Ardmore in 1977. [4]
The writer family of Thurstons were once owners of the house "Maycroft", a plaque to this effect is mounted on the wall there.Some of their novels were set in places very similar to Ardmore
[edit] Sport
The local Gaelic Athletic Association club is Ardmore GAA. Three members of the club, Clinton Hennessy, Declan Prendergast and Seamus Prendergast are also members of the Waterford hurling team.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Ardmore". Ireland 360.com. http://www.ireland360.com/PANORAMA/Ardmore/Index.html. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
- ^ Thomas Jr., Robert McG. (April 24, 1996). "Molly Keane, 91, a Novelist; Portrayed the Anglo-Irish Gentry". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CEED81F39F937A15757C0A960958260. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
- ^ Irish Times, 20 August 2008, page 13, An Irishman's Diary, Hugh Oram
- ^ Ann Morrow, Picnic in a Foreign Land, Grafton Books, 1990
[edit] External links
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