Ardmore, County Waterford

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Round tower and ruins of St Declan's Church, Ardmore.

Stone carvings, St Declan's church

Ardmore (Irish: Aird Mhór, 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, 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.

On a hill above the village is a well-preserved 30m 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. The present Church of Ireland church (St. Paul's) is in this complex, and some elements of the original structure can also be seen within this church.

Today Ardmore is a popular seaside resort, but has had difficulty maintaining its Blue Flag beach status due to an outdated sewage system (early works on updating the system commenced 2006) and modern farming practices which result in run-off from fields and subsequently into the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 to some other seaside villages in the southeast.

The village includes two hotels, a number of pubs and restaurants, a petrol station, a pier and slipway, and a number of small stores. There are also one or two sports clubs and a primary school.

Within 20 minutes drive from Youghal, and 30 minutes from Dungarvan, it is easily accessed from nearby towns. It boasts a mile-long beach, commonly termed the Main Beach, and three or four other beaches, Goat Island, Ballyquinn, the Curragh, and Whiting Bay.

The American novelist Nora Roberts has based three of her books in Ardmore, making it a popular destination for American tourists.