Courtown

{{short description |Village in County Wexford, Ireland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox settlement |settlement_type = Village |name = Courtown |native_name = {{lang|ga|Baile na Cúirte}} |native_name_lang = ga |image_skyline = Courtown4161c.jpg |image_caption = Courtown centre |pushpin_map = Ireland |pushpin_label_position = top |pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ireland |coordinates = {{coord|52.645|-6.229|dim:100000_region:IE|display=inline,title}} |blank_name_sec1 = Irish Grid Reference |blank_info_sec1 = {{iem4ibx|T196562}} |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] |subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of Ireland|Province]] |subdivision_name1 = [[Leinster]] |subdivision_type2 = [[Counties of Ireland|County]] |subdivision_name2 = [[County Wexford]] |unit_pref = Metric |elevation_m = 6 |population_as_of = [[2022 census of Ireland|2022]] |population_total = 4365 |population_note = (Urban area as defined by the 2022 census) |population_footnotes = <ref name="cso2022">{{cite web|title=Census 2022 - F1015 Population|work=Central Statistics Office Census 2022 Reports |publisher=[[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office Ireland]] |date=August 2023 |url=https://data.cso.ie/table/F1015 |access-date=16 September 2023}}</ref> }} '''Courtown''' ({{Irish place name|Baile na Cúirte}})<ref name=logainm>{{cite web | url = https://www.logainm.ie/en/52998 | title = Baile na Cúirte/Courtown | work = [[Placenames Database of Ireland]] | access-date = 3 August 2024}}</ref> is a village in [[County Wexford]], Ireland. It was developed after [[Earl of Courtown|Lord Courtown]] ordered the construction of a harbour during the Famine years, 1839–1846. The economic boost of the new harbour led to a small village developing with fishing being the primary economy of the village.

Courtown lies on the [[R742 road|R742]] [[Regional road (Ireland)|regional road]], around 6 km south-east of [[Gorey]]. It is situated on the [[Irish Sea]] coast and with the recent development during the [[Celtic Tiger|Celtic Tiger years]], has merged into the adjoining village of [[Riverchapel]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gorey's population exceeds 10,000 for first time|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/goreyguardian/news/goreys-population-exceeds-10000-for-first-time-34893736.html|access-date=2021-07-24|website=independent|date=22 July 2016 |language=en}}</ref> As a result, population has trebled from 2006, reaching 4,365 in 2022.<ref name="cso2022"/>

==Development and amenities== [[File:Courtown Harbour 4160.JPG|thumb|left|Courtown Harbour]]

The name Courtown originally applied to a townland in North Wexford, 4 kilometres east of Gorey town. The townland was home to the seat of Lord Courtown during the 18th and 19th centuries. Courtown House was demolished in 1962. The remains of his private church and cemetery can still be seen in the townland. Today it is home to Courtown Golf Club and Kiltennel Church.

In the late 20th and early 21st century, significant [[Urbanization|urbanisation]] has taken place, especially in Riverchapel, just south of Courtown Harbour. Large [[housing estate]]s are now home to [[Commuting|commuters]] working in [[Dublin]]. While the population of Courtown is somewhat smaller, the census combines the area of Courtown, Riverchapel and Ardamine. As of the 2006 census the population of this area was 1,421,<ref name="cso2006">{{cite web|title=Census 2006 – Volume 1 – Population Classified by Area |work=Central Statistics Office Census 2006 Reports |publisher=[[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office Ireland]] |date=April 2007 |url=http://www.cso.ie/census/documents/census2006_volume_1_pop_classified_by_area.pdf |access-date=2011-06-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607074609/http://www.cso.ie/census/documents/census2006_volume_1_pop_classified_by_area.pdf |archive-date=7 June 2011 }}</ref> and had grown to 4,365 by the time of the [[2022 census of Ireland|2022 census]].<ref name="cso2022"/>

Courtown is home to 'The Dinky Take-Away', serving the "best chips in Ireland", as voted on [[Marty Whelan|Marty Whelan's]] morning show on the [[RTÉ 2fm|2FM]] radio station. Courtown also has a confectionary shop, ice-cream shop, and hair salons.

The town features [[Miniature golf|crazy golf]], [[amusement ride]]s, [[ten-pin bowling]], a [[golf course]], as well as a [[beach]] and [[Forest|forest park]].

[[Courtown Lifeboat Station]] was opened by the [[Royal National Lifeboat Institution]] in 1865, rebuilt on its present site in 1911, but closed in 1925. It reopened in 1990 as the base for an inshore [[Lifeboat (rescue)|lifeboat]].<ref>{{cite web| title =Courtown's station history | website = RNLI | url =https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/courtown-lifeboat-station/station-history-courtown |access-date = 1 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title =Ballinatray Lower, Courtown, Wexford | website = Buildings of Ireland| url =https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/15611018/ballinatray-lower-courtown-co-wexford |access-date = 7 December 2024}}</ref>

[[Seal Rescue Ireland]] (SRI), a charity organisation that works to rescue, rehabilitate and release sick or injured seals, is based in Courtown.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.sealrescueireland.org/about-us/ | website = sealrescueireland.org | title = Seal Rescue Ireland - About Us | date = 23 January 2024 }}</ref>

==Transport== There is a bus once a day (except on Sundays) to and from [[Gorey]], departing in the morning and returning in the afternoon. On Mondays and Saturdays [[Bus Éireann]] route 379 operates and continues to [[Wexford]] via [[Curracloe]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1209047152-Table-379.pdf |title=Bus Éireann - Timetable - Route 379 |access-date=27 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412221207/http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1209047152-Table-379.pdf |archive-date=12 April 2012 }}</ref> Route 879 operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. On Wednesdays, the service is provided by the Rural Roadrunner bus operated by Wexford Local Development.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.journeyplanner.transportforireland.ie| title = Journey planner}}</ref>

The nearest station is [[Gorey railway station]], around 7 kilometres away.

==Tourism == As a harbour and seaside village, there is a high tourism rate during the months of the summer (May–August).{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} Local tourist accommodation types include a number of bed and breakfasts, guesthouses, and caravan and holiday parks.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

== History == {{Historical populations|state=collapsed |1841|248 |1851|607 |1861|480 |1871|613 |1881|512 |1891|438 |1901|462 |1911|414 |1926|344 |1936|316 |1946|294 |1951|257 |1956|411 |1961|396 |1966|421 |1971|291 |1981|337 |1986|317 |1991|343 |1996|364 |2002|502 |2006|1421 |2011|2857 |2016|3591 |2022|4365 |footnote=<ref>[http://www.cso.ie/census Census for post 1821 figures.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920090850/http://cso.ie/census/ |date=20 September 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.histpop.org |title=Histpop - The Online Historical Population Reports Website |date= |website=www.histpop.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507023856/http://www.histpop.org/ |archive-date=7 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census |title= Northern Ireland Census of Population|access-date=28 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217095720/http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census/ |archive-date=17 February 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Lee |first=JJ |editor-last=Goldstrom |editor-first=J. M. |editor2-last=Clarkson |editor2-first=L. A. |title=Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell |year=1981 |publisher=Clarendon Press |location=Oxford, England |chapter=On the accuracy of the Pre-famine Irish censuses }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Mokyr | first1 = Joel | author-link1 = Joel Mokyr | last2 = O Grada | first2 = Cormac | title = New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700-1850 | journal = The Economic History Review | volume = 37 | issue = 4 | series = Volume | pages = 473–488 |date=November 1984 | url = http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract | archive-url = https://archive.today/20121204160709/http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120035880/abstract | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2012-12-04 | doi = 10.1111/j.1468-0289.1984.tb00344.x | hdl = 10197/1406 | hdl-access = free }}</ref><ref name="cso2022"/> }} The name 'Courtown' dates to 1278,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.courtownharbour.com/| title = Courtown Harbour, Gorey, Co. Wexford - Courtown Harbour, Gorey, Co. Wexford}}</ref> but the harbour was not built until the mid-1800s as a response by Lord Courtown to the Great Famine, and cost £25,000 to complete. Courtown was by then already well known for its beaches, but the presence of the harbour made it a fashionable destination, with people from Dublin and the midlands frequenting the village and beaches.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} Its popularity as a summer holiday resort for Dublin people increased after 1863, when the [[Gorey railway station|railway line]] from Dublin reached nearby [[Gorey]].{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

==See also== * [[List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland|List of towns and villages in Ireland]] * [[List of RNLI stations]]

==References==

==External links== {{Commons category|Courtown}} * [http://www.courtownharbour.com Courtownharbour.com - Website for Courtown Harbour]

[[Category:Seaside resorts in the Republic of Ireland]] [[Category:Towns and villages in County Wexford]] [[Category:Beaches of County Wexford]]