Environment & Climate
Courtown sits on a soft, eroding coastline, and climate change is not an abstraction here. This is the work we're doing to protect it and the national action we're calling for.
How climate change is affecting our coastline
-
24 acres
of coastline lost in 40 years - about 18 soccer pitches
-
1–2m
of soft shoreline lost each year (up to 5m in parts of the NHA)
-
Since 1986
erosion accelerating since Storm Charlie and worsening winter storms
Courtown is increasingly highlighted as one of Ireland's most vulnerable coastal communities. Once known for its award-winning Blue Flag beach, its sandy shoreline has been steadily eroding since the 1980s. Rock armour was installed to slow erosion and protect property, but the beach itself continued to disappear, and large sections are now dominated by rock armour - altering the character of the village and affecting tourism.
The Government's Inter-Departmental Group report on National Coastal Change Management acknowledges that coastal change is inevitable and calls for a coordinated national framework, better monitoring, long-term funding and stronger engagement with affected communities. CCC remains hopeful - new walking trails and regeneration plans are underway - but stresses that long-term resilience will depend on a national coastal erosion strategy that balances protecting homes with sustainable, nature-based solutions.
In the news & research
Courtown's coastal erosion on RTÉ News
A call from RTÉ reporter Conor Hunt led to a piece on Courtown's coastal erosion, featured on RTÉ News.
"Solastalgia" and valuing place
CCC took part in a Maynooth College geography student's research on the impacts of coastal erosion, later published - helping popularise the term "solastalgia".
Community River Restoration Project
Clean Coasts · riverbank restoration on the Ounavarra
During Storm Claudia in November 2025, water surging down the Ounavarra River eroded its softer banks and uprooted mature trees. One near Burrow Road collapsed, tearing away a substantial section of riverbank. Wexford County Council stabilised the bank to save the access road to the beach and walking trails.
CCC took this as a chance to run a community riparian restoration project. Guided by Clean Coasts' Area Officer Róisín and Biodiversity Officer Liane, volunteers took cuttings from established willows along the river and planted them along the eroded section — protecting the waterway and creating new wildlife habitat.
"Native willow plays a vital role in stabilizing riverbanks - its roots bind and strengthen the soil, support riverbank habitats, increase resilience to storms and flooding, and reduce soil erosion into waterways."
Get involved & ongoing surveys
-
Coastwatch All-Ireland Survey
Every autumn CCC takes part in Coastwatch's All-Ireland Survey. Data goes to Coastwatch and to Civil & Environmental Engineering at Trinity College Dublin for analysis.
-
College research survey
A TCD geography student's dissertation is studying how local perspectives shape our understanding of beach loss and restoration at Courtown's North Beach. Community groups and stakeholders are invited to fill in a short survey.
-
Beach & coastal clean-ups
Join our Clean Coasts beach and coastal clean-ups through the spring and summer. Everyone welcome — dates go up on What's On.
With thanks to our partners on this work - Clean Coasts, Wexford County Council, Coastwatch, Trinity College Dublin, Prof. Mary Bourke, An Taisce - LEAF Programme, Maynooth University
Lend a hand on the coast
Join a clean-up, take part in a survey, or add your voice to the call for a national coastal strategy.