Ardmore, County Waterford
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Ardmore (Aird Mhór in Irish, meaning "Great Height") is a fishing village in County Waterford situated not far from Youghal on the south coast of Ireland, with a population of around 330. 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 christianized the area before the coming of Saint Patrick.
On a hill above the village is a well preserved 30-m high, 12th-century round tower and the ruins of St Declan's church and oratory dating from the 13th and 8th centuries respectively. One of the outer walls of the church features some stone carvings retrieved from an earlier 9th-century building. The carvings include a very early image of a harp, and of Adam and Eve in the garden. The church also contains two Ogham stones, which rest in small alcoves.
Today Ardmore is a popular seaside resort, but has had difficulty maintaining its Blue Flag status due to an outdated sewerage system (early works on updating the system commenced 2006) and modern farming practices which result in run-off from fields and subsequently into the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 to some other seaside villages in the southeast. Regardless of the Blue Flag issues, Ardmore beach, the cliff walk, the neighbouring stretches of Curragh beach and Whiting Bay, along with the unexplored Drum Hills to the south make Ardmore a great place to live in and visit.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Geographical coordinates:
- Dungarvan Tourism: Ardmore
- ireland360.com
