Father's Day Dinner in Dunmore East 2025
Father's Day falls on Sunday 15th June 2025. If you're looking for a proper dinner on the harbour in Dunmore East, The Spinnaker Bar serves fresh seafood, 8oz striploin steak, lamb shank and a Sunday roast on the day. Walk-ins welcome most days, but ring Peter on (051) 383 133 for Sunday evening or any group of six or more. Cold pints, harbour views, and food that doesn't try too hard.
Why The Spinnaker Bar for Father's Day
The Spinnaker Bar, Lower Village, Dunmore East sits on the working harbour. You watch trawlers tie up while you eat. Peter — the new owner — runs the kitchen and the bar himself. He sources seafood off day-boats that dock outside. The menu is short and honest: beer-battered fish €22.50, seafood pie €23, 8oz striploin steak €37, lamb shank €27, Sunday roast on the day. No fuss, no foam, no microgreens. Just cooked right.
Fathers don't want a three-hour tasting menu. They want a cold pint, a decent steak or a plate of fresh fish, and a seat where they can see the water. The Spinnaker delivers exactly that. If your dad likes GAA or Premier League football, every match is on the big screen. If he likes a quiet pint after dinner, the bar stays open and the harbour lights come on as the sun drops.
The Menu: Seafood, Steak, Roast
Peter's menu suits the village. Starters: seafood chowder €13.50, prawn cocktail €12, mussels €14 (chorizo, sherry, cream, garlic bread), wings €14 (buffalo or bbq). Mains: beer battered fish €22.50, seafood pie €23, lamb shank €27, 8oz striploin €37, beef burger €20, chicken korma €22 (rice and naan), vegetable korma €20. Pizzas €13.50 to €21. Sides €5: chips, mash, vegetables, salad. Desserts €8.95: cheesecake, crème brûlée, strawberry mousse, chocolate orange tart.
On Sundays, Peter does a Sunday roast on the day. Check Peter's Facebook for this week's cut and price. The lamb shank is a Father's Day favourite: slow-cooked, falls off the bone, comes with mash and seasonal vegetables. The striploin is 8oz Irish beef, cooked to order. The seafood pie is loaded: cod, salmon, smoked haddock, prawns, white wine cream sauce, mash crust.
Booking for Father's Day Sunday
Walk-ins are welcome most days at The Spinnaker Bar, but Father's Day Sunday evening (15th June 2025) needs a booking. Ring Peter on (051) 383 133 to reserve your table. If you're bringing six or more, book ahead any day. Peter answers the phone himself, so you're talking directly to the man cooking your dinner.
Email works too: spinnakerbardunmore@gmail.com. Or message Peter on Facebook. Don't leave it until the morning of — Father's Day is one of the busiest Sundays in the village. Book early, pick your table, sort it and move on.
What to Do Before or After Dinner
Dunmore East is a working fishing village at the mouth of Waterford Harbour, about 12 km south-east of Waterford City. Population ~1,500. Thatched cottages, pastel paint, cliffs and beaches. Before dinner, walk the Doneraile cliff path — starts near the Strand Inn car park, follows the cliffs east, takes about 45 minutes to the headland and back. Views over the Celtic Sea, back toward Hook Head lighthouse.
After dinner, walk down to Counsellor's Strand (small sheltered beach) or along the harbour wall to the lifeboat station. The village is compact. Everything is within ten minutes on foot. If your dad fancies a pint after the meal, The Spinnaker keeps going. Live music some weekends on the deck — Ash and Laura play sometimes — check Peter's Facebook for this week's lineup.
How to Get to The Spinnaker Bar
The Spinnaker Bar is in the Lower Village, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford. From Waterford City, take the R683 south through Passage East road (don't take the ferry), follow signs for Dunmore East, about 20 minutes. Park in the harbour car park (free) or on the road near the pier. The Spinnaker is the white building on the harbour front, impossible to miss.
From Wexford or Rosslare, take the N25 west toward Waterford, exit at Tramore and follow coast road signs to Dunmore East, about 40 minutes. From Cork, N25 east through Youghal and Dungarvan, exit Waterford and pick up the R683 south, about 90 minutes. GPS: Lower Village, Dunmore East. Phone: (051) 383 133. No table? Ring Peter.
Book a table — go straight to Peter
Peter is the new owner of The Spinnaker Bar in Dunmore East. He runs the kitchen and the bar himself, so booking goes direct to him — no app, no fee, no middleman.
Or message Peter on the Spinnaker Facebook page — he checks it daily.
Quick questions
Do I need to book for Father's Day dinner at The Spinnaker Bar?
Yes, for Father's Day Sunday evening (15th June 2025) you should book ahead. Ring Peter on (051) 383 133, email spinnakerbardunmore@gmail.com, or message him on Facebook. Walk-ins are welcome most days, but Sunday evenings fill up fast. Any group of six or more should always book ahead.
What time does The Spinnaker Bar serve food on Father's Day?
Peter posts this week's food times on Facebook. Hours and kitchen times vary week to week, especially around busy weekends like Father's Day. Check The Spinnaker Bar Facebook page or ring Peter on (051) 383 133 to confirm when the kitchen opens on Sunday 15th June 2025.
What's the best main course for Father's Day at The Spinnaker?
The 8oz striploin steak (€37) and lamb shank (€27) are Father's Day favourites. The steak is Irish beef, cooked to order. The lamb shank is slow-cooked, falls off the bone, comes with mash and vegetables. Peter also does a Sunday roast on the day — check Facebook for this week's cut. The seafood pie (€23) and beer-battered fish (€22.50) are excellent if your dad prefers fish.
Where is The Spinnaker Bar in Dunmore East?
The Spinnaker Bar is in the Lower Village, right on the harbour in Dunmore East, Co. Waterford. It's the white building on the harbour front. Park in the free harbour car park or on the road near the pier. From Waterford City, take the R683 south (Passage East road), about 20 minutes. Phone: (051) 383 133.