Courtown

Courtown

Features

Courtown is a coastal village in north County Wexford, Ireland.

The sea-side village is notable as a fishing location and popular tourist destination. It may be ideal for maritime scenes or for scenes with tourism elements. The area has many tourist spots, including a seasonal amusement park, casinos, hotels, a leisure and recreational centre, and Pirates Cove. Tourists are especially drawn to the location in the summer for walks along Courtown Beach and in Courtown Woods.

The area is also known for its harbour, which occupies the heart of the village. The small harbour is formed by the estuary of the Owenavoragh River and is reinforced by concrete piers and stone breakwaters. The main road terminates on the end of the pier, and a small promenade follows the dock and leads to the beach and the forest. An iconic ice-cream kiosk sits on the village side of the harbour.

The harbour was built between 1839-1846 as a means of boosting the local economy during the famine years. The village was built up around the harbour in the following decades. In the late 20th century, Courtown was massively expanded with new housing developments. The expanded village has merged with the nearby village of Riverchapel.

More Info

Population ~4,000

Nearest town: Gorey, 6km away.

Photographer: Gordon Wycherly, Screen Ireland