Heritage

A harbour village with a longer story than the season suggests - told through its folklore, its landmarks, its records and its people

Courtown grew up around its harbour, built in the nineteenth century on the estate of the Earls of Courtown. The village that followed was shaped by the sea fishing, shipping, the railway, and the holidaymakers it brought down from Dublin. Courtown Riverchapel Community Development Group maintains a heritage audit, a folklore collection and an image archive for the area - much of it handed in by the people who live here.

Four men outdoors, seated and standing near a stone wall, engaged in conversation or other activity, with fields and farm equipment in the background.
  • Local Folklore Collection

    "Voices from the Past" - filmed interviews with local residents by Michael Fortune.

  • The Spike Bridge

    The much-loved woodland bridge, its 2024 closure and community-led reopening.

  • Courtown Dunes & Glen

    A rare wooded dune system, its trails and the hidden history along the route.

  • Harbour Nights

    The RTÉ documentary filmed in Courtown in 2000 - all eight episodes.

  • Lewis's Topographical Dictionary

    The 1837 entry for the parish of Kiltennel (Courtown).

  • Heritage Audit

    A full record of the area's built, natural and cultural heritage.

The Image Library

Photographs of Courtown and Riverchapel gathered from local families and collections - the harbour, the beach, the shops, the summers.

Got an old photo, a story or a name we're missing? The archive exists because people kept things.