The following piece was published in the Clonmel Herald on
the 25th of July 1831. The
writer was underwhelmed by the charms of Dungarvan.
Dungarvan….the approach provides a delightful
promenade…it may be remarked that though it is one of the most considerable
fishing towns in the kingdom, there are times when like the present fish is
scarce and very dear; at the period of this excursion there was much scarcity
of hake, but a glut of sprats which were sold extremely cheap and on which the
poor people appear to live; these last fish if salted, dried in the air, and
smoked, afford, it is said, a delightful repast. The meat market was poorly supplied with
mutton and beef, vegetables were scarce and consequently dear; the old potatoes
which is of the old red apple kind, are very excellent and very superior to new
potatoes.
The bathing here is execrable in consequence of the
want of accommodation. Warm baths can be
had but they are on the most disgusting and confined plan. The same water is made to serve for several
persons, and the baths are of wood. It
is very extraordinary that the inhabitants who must be benefiting by the influx
of visitors that come here every season, would not exert themselves to have
proper baths erected. Were the Duke of
Devonshire applied to …we have no doubt, but he would bear the expense of
erecting baths.
