Dunmore East Harbour

Anchored by its famous lighthouse, Dunmore East harbour is a fully working harbour (as is very apparent if the wind is from a certain direction) and is home to dozens of fishing trawlers, a fish factory, boatyard and even a fish auction. It’s a great place to bring kids — they love the brightly coloured boats, the raucous gulls and the lobster pots littering the quay. Blow away the cobwebs (and the kids?) with a walk along the high harbour wall. Check out the daily evening auction, where you can bid for the catch of the day with the local restauranteurs, fish factory or fish brokers. When I was last there, a shark was up for grabs. It was ‘this big”. It’s a fun way to kill an hour working up an appetite for supper, or to catch a glimpse into one of the toughest professions around.