Summer/Autumn 2026
Illegal Dumping
Easter got off to an disappointing start.
It seems some people missed the “LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS” message.
Please be mindful of where your home improvement waste ends up and dispose of it responsibly.
SPRING BEACH CLEAN 2026
In April an incredible effort from our community who were joined by the Courtown/Arklow Coast Guard Unit for our official #SpringClean26 Beach Clean! with Clean Coasts.
A literal truck load of litter removed from our coastline by these incredible volunteers and great to see a turn out of all ages on a beautiful day in the sunny South East!
Brilliant effort all round well done everyone!
WILD ABOUT WILD GARLIC
What a fantastic response we received from our "Wild About Wild Garlic Event" back in April. It sold out so quickly we held a second one! Thank you to everyone who came along to learn about all the different uses for our locally grown wild garlic.
AGM 2026
Many thanks to everyone who attended our AGM at the end of April. It was great to see everyone and to have some productive conversations about the future of our community.
We’re delighted to share that the resolution to change our name to 'Courtown Riverchapel Community Development Group' was passed unanimously.
A report on our work over the past year is available here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vHwkF57dtTuVno3AJjgHsBAtiwUv5KRP/view?usp=sharing
If you’re interested in volunteering some time, have a concept in mind or want to work on a project, we’d love to hear from you!
COASTAL PROTECTION
In April Malcom Byrne TD addressed the Climate Committee, and discussed with the Office of Public Works as to how we can protect coastal areas from erosion and flooding. Looking at Courtown Harbour as an example. CRCDG asked if Wexford County Council submitted an application to the OPW - Office of Public Works to help protect the Courtown - Kiltennel Walking Trail, the Burrow car park and former cricket pitch.
Additionally, winter rainfall is now increasingly undermining sections of the Ounavarra riverbank and burrow road. To date we’ve had no update on any application made by Wexford County Council to address these urgent issues that are resulting in annual losses of 3–5 metres of coastline. While we welcome the regeneration assessment and investment in the town centre, urgent funding and intervention is needed for the coastline north of Courtown, if we are to protect Courtown Kiltennel Walking Trail and Courtown Golf Club into the future. Given the seriousness of rising sea levels and coastal erosion, surely an application for emergency works needs to be submitted immediately?
BRIDGE REPAIRS
Before
After
Back in May, in collaboration with Wexford Walking Trails, the bridge repairs along the Courtown Kiltennel Walking Trail, were successfully completed.
Many thanks to Wexford Walking Trails and Wexford County Council for organising and carrying out these important works.
FUNDING BOOST
Fantastic news for Courtown and Riverchapel
In May we were delighted to announce that the The Heritage Council awarded us €25,000 under the Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2026 for a “Courtown-Riverchapel Heritage Audit”. We were selected as one of 127 projects from 375 applicants nationwide.
CRCDG were the lead applicant, working in partnership with members of Courtown Heritage Group and we are thrilled to see this important project receive support at national level.
This funding will help us discover, record, celebrate and preserve the rich heritage, history and stories of our local area for future generations.
A huge thank you to everyone involved in preparing the application and supporting the project — exciting times ahead!
RECOGNITION
In May we were very grateful to receive this recognition from our local district councillors for the voluntary work being carried out across Courtown and Riverchapel and further afield.
It also marks the end of an era, as this was the final award presented under the name Courtown Community Council.
As we move towards the launch of our official new name
— Courtown Riverchapel Community Development Group —
We look forward to continuing to support sustainable community development, environmental initiatives, heritage works and local improvements throughout the area.
NEW LOGO
A fresh new look for a growing community!
Today we proudly launch our new name and logo for Courtown Riverchapel Community Development Group (CRCDG).
We look forward to continuing to support sustainable development, environmental initiatives, heritage projects and local improvements throughout the area.
This rebrand represents unity, progress and community spirit — while continuing the important work started as Courtown Community Council
COUNTY CONNECTS
A big thank you to everyone that joined us for our Country Connects walk with Wexford Walking Trails. It was our turn to showcase our fantastic Courtown Kiltennel Trail and what a gorgeous day for it too! Plus we managed to raise some funds for the Hope Cancer Society.
There are over 80 walking trails, spread across 35 locations here in Wexford, mostly maintained by long suffering volunteers like ourselves! But what a joy it is to see so many out enjoying them! And if you were to choose one every weekend, it would keep you busy for nearly 2 years! So get outside and start exploring!
TRAIL REROUTE
Courtown Kiltennel Walking Trail
In September Coillte are due to carry out essential works to reroute a section of the Courtown Kiltennel Walking Trail that was lost during #StormChandra
As the designated TMO, Trail Management Organisation, we would like to thank Coillte for undertaking these important works and appreciate the patience and cooperation of all trail users while the rerouting is completed.
Further updates will be provided as the works progress.
Scale of threat from coastal erosion immense - report
June 2026
Courtown Riverchapel Community Development Group welcomes the positive progress being made on the proposed regeneration of Courtown Harbour and recognise the opportunities it presents for the future development of our area.
However, the latest national warnings on coastal erosion reinforce the need for regeneration and climate resilience to go hand in hand.
Courtown's coastline, dunes, woodlands and green spaces are among our most valuable assets. They support biodiversity, attract visitors, provide recreational opportunities and act as natural defences against the impacts of climate change.
As recent reports have highlighted, coastal erosion is no longer a future challenge—it is a reality facing communities across Wexford, including Courtown. The continued loss of beach and dune habitat underlines the urgency of investing in long-term coastal resilience measures alongside regeneration projects.
We believe that the future success of our community depends on an integrated approach that combines regeneration, environmental protection, biodiversity enhancement and climate adaptation.
The upcoming Courtown Riverchapel Heritage Audit will play an important role in this process. By examining our natural, cultural and built heritage, including the area's valuable coastal and biodiversity resources, it will help inform future actions to strengthen environmental resilience and support sustainable regeneration.
We look forward to working with all stakeholders to ensure that investment in Courtown not only enhances our infrastructure and visitor offering but also protects and restores the natural assets that make our community unique
NEW WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT
DCU Students
A big thank you to everyone who took the time to speak to us and the DCU back in June! Theres the team heading back to Dublin, strawberries galore!
This survey is really helpful to us as we plan a revamp on our website. And this information gathering day was for our visitors, both regular and new! What's good, and whats not so good! Where you came from and how you found us?
We want to know!
COURTOWNS SUMMER BEACH LITTER PATROL SCHEME REMOVED
In June of this year Wexford County Council discontinued our Summer Beach Litter Patrol scheme in Courtown without any consultation.
As a result, we have already reported numerous incidents involving the shocking aftermath of weekend beach parties, illegal encampments and campfires along our beautiful coastline and within our vulnerable woodland areas.
This is not only damaging to our environment but also poses a serious public health and safety risk.
We are asking everyone to contact their local councillors, TDs, and Wexford County Council to urge the immediate reinstatement of the Summer Beach Litter Patrol officers.
If you witness illegal dumping, littering, or other environmental damage, please report it directly to Wexford County Council here:
https://wexford-self.achieveservice.com/.../Environment...
If you witness illegal encampments and open fires please notify the Gardaí on 999/112 immediately.
Together, we can help protect our beaches, woodlands, wildlife and community for everyone to enjoy.
We have lodged an FOI request to find out the rationale behind removing these important support workers during Courtown’s very busy summer months. This scheme is critical in helping the community manage the thousands of visitors who flock to Courtown every summer. It needs to be reinstated.
ART PROJECT
In July volunteers were sought to take part in creating a large art project with artist Trish Middleton. We look forward to seeing the results of the creative work in the Autumn.
HERITAGE AUDIT CONSULTANTS
What a beautiful evening it was in July for our first walk-through with the Heritage Audit consultants around Courtown Harbour, joined by members of Courtown Heritage Group.
It was an evening full of great company, shared memories and fascinating conversations. We're excited to be part of this important project, made possible through funding from The Heritage Council and we look forward to uncovering and celebrating more of Courtown's rich heritage in the months ahead
KATE KOS SKETCHING WORKSHOP
August 2026
Many thanks to Kate Kos and to everyone who joined this morning's sketching workshop on the seafront in Courtown last July.
It was a fantastic event, with wonderful tuition from Kate in a beautiful setting. Thank you Kate, for making it such an enjoyable and inspiring morning.
HARBOUR POLLUTION
Pollution and Litter Plague Courtown Harbour
Full Story Here:
WATER QUALITY AWARNESS EVENT
August 2026
Huge thanks to everyone who made today's Water Quality Awareness Day During Heritage Week such a fabulous, interactive success!
A massive thank you to Jenny & Maggie from the River Basin Management Service for their brilliant piece on our rivers and all the different species living in them. To Ecologist Natasha for the river water testing demo. To Róisín from Clean Coasts for the marine litter session and to Kathy from Seal Rescue Ireland for a fascinating look at seal welfare. Great to see so many of you getting involved in the event.
Thanks also to Cllr Joe Sullivan and Cllr Craig Doyle, and Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin TD, for joining us and showing their support.
On the back of constant local pressure due to a number of pollution events this summer, Wexford County Council has now committed to "commencing Phase One of a surface water drainage cross-connection survey in Courtown, when resources allow."
This is a welcome step and we'll keep pushing to see it happen. Particular thanks to Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin for raising this directly with the Minister in an effort to secure funding.
More to come as this progresses.
POLLUTION UPDATE
Update: Water Pollution Monitoring in Courtown
Following ongoing reports of water pollution in our area, we've been in contact with the relevant authorities this week to push for stronger monitoring and transparency.
We've asked for written confirmation on a number of points, including:
Regular sampling at the outfall pipes
A broader investigation of the wider street/catchment area
Testing of the Ounavarra, Aughboy/Breanoge Rivers
Access to previous EPA results for these watercourses
Sea Water testing results at North Beach
Local sea swimmers have told us that while the water is often clear, this isn't always the case, and that pollution from the harbour or the pumping station at the south pier could also be affecting water quality at the beach.
We'll keep the community updated as we get responses. If you swim, fish, or spend time in these waters and have noticed anything unusual, we'd love to hear from you in the comments or by message.
Let's keep our waterways and beaches clean for everyone.
BAT WALK
September 2026
Another magical night in the woods with our fellow nature lovers as ventured into the woods with the sun setting to do some bat detecting!
Joined by Alan and his team from the North Wexford Bat Group we managed to identify all species of native Irish Bats, all hunting along the banks of the river and sleeping the days away in the trees!
A magical evening and a great turn out as always!
Thanks to everyone who donated to our bat box fund too!
More Pollution
⚠️ Hot on the heels of our Water Quality Awareness event, we were informed of another discharge with a strong odour entering the Aughboy/Breanoge River. It's been reported to Uisce Éireann and Wexford County Council for further investigation.
We'll keep you updated as we hear more. If you notice pollution in local waterways, please log it here:
WEBSITE
August 2025
That's a wrap! Thank you to DCU for the opportunity to engage with business and academia students to help us redevelop our website.
Today was their opportunity to present to the college the fruits of their labours — what a wonderful team. We wish you every success in the future.
The Town Centre First Regeneration process gave us the opportunity to link in with DCU to improve Courtown-Riverchapel's Digital Blueprint, which will help us build a stronger online presence for the community into the future.
Huge thanks to Prof. Theo Lynn, Prof. Pierangelo Rosati and the DCU Business School Applied Consultancy Project, for making this partnership happen and to this brilliant group of students for all their work on our behalf.
HERITAGE PRESENTATION
͏Coastal Heritage Audit of Courtown & Riverchapel – Thank You!
A huge thank you to everyone (approx 60 people) who came along to Riverchapel Community Centre for the presentation of the Coastal Heritage Audit of Courtown and Riverchapel .
The room was full, the interest was fantastic and it was wonderful to see so many people engaging with the talk and chatting with fellow attendees about our shared local history .
Sincere thanks to our consultants Anú Heritage and Slaneyside Heritage, along with ecologist Natasha Ariff and folklorist Lorraine O'Dwyer , for the huge amount of work that went into bringing this project together.
We also had a wonderful display of memorabilia on the day – photographs , newspaper cuttings , documents and personal items from the local community – a real treasure trove , with far too many items to mention individually! Thank you to everyone who brought pieces along to share.
This is exactly the kind of community involvement that makes projects like this so rewarding . Watch this space for more on the audit findings soon!
COASTWATCH
August 2026
Delighted and honoured to have been part of today's Coastal Zone Monitoring, Protection & Restoration with Informed Citizen Participation conference at Europe House, Dublin.
Thank you to Coastwatch and Karin Dubsky for the invitation to speak on Public Alerts to Sewage & Other Pollution — sharing the on-the-ground reality of what it takes for communities like Courtown/Riverchapel to get pollution incidents recognised and acted on.
Great to be in the room with such a strong network working on this — so many others giving their time and expertise to keep citizen participation at the heart of coastal protection.
With a visit to Duncannon Fort and the Waterford Estuary part of the conference — we look forward to seeing more of the work in practice.
Update: Water Pollution Investigation, Courtown
We're pleased to share that Phase 1 of the water pollution investigation at Courtown Harbour is now underway with the Water Team in Wexford County Council
This is a long-term process and we'll share further updates as they come. We ask that the community remain vigilant and report any further sightings of pollution in our waterways.
A sincere thank you to Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin TD for his assistance in helping to secure the funding needed to get this vital investigation moving. Your support is greatly appreciated by the community.
We'll keep you posted as Phase 1 progresses.
COILLTE TRAIL RE ROUTE
Eariler this year, many of you will remember we lost a significant section of the Courtown–Kiltennel Walking Trail to coastal erosion during #StormChandra
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BosWRvgjv/
As the Trail Management Organisation (TMO), we're happy to report that Coillte have now begun these works and we're very excited to see the route being re routed away from the soft shoreline ensuring safe passage for generations to come.
Folks, please follow all safety signage throughout the works untill completed. Many thanks.
WATER CHAMPIONS
Water Champions Training with RBMS
Following on from our Heritage Week Water Quality Awareness Day, Jennifer and Haan from RBMS kindly hosted a special training session for our local water champions, as part of a local citizen science recording initiative.
Huge thanks to Jennifer and Haan for sharing their expertise! We hope to run more sessions like this in the future.
NEW BENCH
September 2026
Thank you to Wexford County Council for installing our new bench on Riverchapel Main Street. We hope it gives our residents a place to sit, rest and chat, especially our elderly residents. This community bench was funded by the Local Enhancement Programme 2026 along with a new laptop and printer to help us deliver bigger and better projects for the community.
Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
AUTUMN BEACH CLEAN
6km Big Beach Clean 2026 – Mission Complete!
This weekend, volunteers came together to clean 6km of Wexford coastline from Duffcarrick to Poulshone as part of our Big Beach Clean challenge!
South Beach – Done
North Pier – Done
North Beach – Done
Burrow Beach – Done
Kiltennel Beach – Done
Ardamine Beach – Done
Duffcarrick Beach – Done
Huge thanks to everyone who gave up their time — Courtown/Arklow Coast Guard Unit, Courtown running club,, the ladies sea swim group, Clean Coasts volunteers, families and community members of all ages who turned up determined to get this stretch of coast spotless.
Bag after bag of litter removed and a beautiful coastline to show for it. Take a bow, everyone — you should be proud of what we achieved together!
Bottles and Cans Donations
Star of the Sea NS Riverchapel
The Re-turn bins at the school gates. All donations of cans and bottles are very much appreciated. Please support!
BAT SURVEY
September 2026
A new bat survey of Courtown Woods has found that the woodland supports six of the eight resident bat species known in County Wexford, highlighting its importance for local wildlife.
The survey was carried out in August by licensed bat specialist Dr.Tina Aughney, commissioned by Courtown Riverchapel Community Development Group (CRCDG) through funding awarded by Bat Conservation Ireland. The species recorded were the Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle, Leisler's bat, Daubenton's bat, Natterer's bat and Brown Long-Eared bat, all of which are protected under the EU Habitats Directive.
Soprano pipistrelles and Daubenton's bats were also recorded roosting under the arches of Ballinatray Bridge and the report notes that the woodland's mix of tree species and ages is likely to provide roosts for all the species found.
The report recommends a Bat Box Scheme and 22 trees across the woodland have already been marked as suitable. CRCDG and Wexford County Council's Biodiversity Officer & Heritage Officer are working together on the survey's recommendations, including the Bat Box Scheme, which would come at no cost to the landowners. Pending permission, CRCDG also hopes to create a dedicated Bat Trail, giving local families, schools and visitors a chance to learn more about our native bats. The woodland trails in Courtown Woods are a valuable amenity for visitors and the entire community.
The report also recommends that CRCDG take part in Bat Conservation Ireland's national monitoring programmes, the All Ireland Daubenton's Bat Waterway Survey along the Owenavarragh River and the Woodland Monitoring Survey, with routes already mapped through the woods. Once in place, the bat boxes would be registered with Bat Conservation Ireland and checked each year by a licensed bat ecologist, building a long-term record of the woodland's bats.
CRCDG is keen to see the Gorey to Courtown connection completed in the best possible way. In light of the survey and subject to agreement with the landowners, the group proposes linking it through Courtown Woods using the existing woodland trails as they are. The only new element would be a small footbridge further downstream, where an old bridge once stood, which would also link the walking trails on either side of the river. This would offer a safe, traffic-free route for families and visitors with minimal impact on the protected woodland. The report advises that any works to Ballinatray Bridge would need further surveys and may require a derogation licence from the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
CRCDG believes that this route offers the most effective way to protect the roosts and safeguard the area's sensitive heritage, while also enabling the project to be delivered in a timely and cost-effective way.
