Dungarvan Town

Dungarvan Town. . , Recent archaeological investigations prove the existence of a Viking settlement at Shandon c.900, about one kilometer from Dungarvan. The present town of Dungarvan developed around the castle constructed in the late 12th century to protect the harbour. The Normans had initially constructed a temporary fortification known as a motte and bailey (a temporary fortification) at Gallowshill, Shandon, north of the present town. Prince John arrived in Waterford in 1185 and initiated the building of a number of castles in the South East region including Dungarvan. By 1209 a stone castle was constructed by the sea shore and a curtain-wall and towers were added later., The present remains consist of a twin towered entrance gate, a polygonal keep, a large two storey tower with walls seven feet in thickness. The southern wall is preserved to its original height with later gun loops inserted. A barrack building was constructed within the walls in the early 18th century. The King’s Own Borderers were the last soldiers to occupy the barrack departing in 1882. It was then taken over by the Royal Irish Constabulary who evacuated the premises in 1922 when it was taken over by Republican forces. After the Irish Civil War it became the headquarters of the Civic Guards, re-named the Garda Síochána, in 1923. An extensive restoration of the building has been undertaken by the Office of Public Works in recent years., A market place was developed at Lower Main Street. The market house building (known as the butter weigh house) is believed to date from the late 17th century and was taken over in the 1860s by Robert A. Merry, Wine Merchants. Edmund Power, a member of the United Irishmen, (a revolutionary organisation aimed at founding an independent Irish republic) was hanged from one of the front windows in 1799. There are remains of pre-1700 buildings in the area. The most complete is the building known as St Garvan’s Church which is believed to date to the late 15th or early 16th century. It may have functioned as a guildhall or a merchant’s house., Archaeology , In the 1990s a number of archaeological digs were carried out within the old walled town. A large amount of fish bones/oyster shells were uncovered along with pottery fragments from countries such as Germany, France, and England., (Captions) , Barrack Lane with St Garvan’s Church on the right c.1903. , Members of the West Waterford Irish Republican army in Dungarvan Castle 1922. , The South West tower, Dungarvan Castle, c.1890. , A member of the Royal Irish Constabulary, Dungarvan Castle c.1900.