Smart Village Strategy

Smart Villages are communities that use innovative solutions to improve their resilience, building on local strengths and opportunities.

Courtown Community Council and Riverchapel Community Complex Trustees jointly completed a seven-week Smart Village course together. The course was supported by Wexford Local Development and delivered by rural development expert Ian Dempsey. We are creating a Smart Village Strategic Plan (SVSP) that involves the entire community, works close to nature, and follows local, national and EU strategic priorities.

Have you thought about what the Courtown Riverchapel area might look like in five years' time?

Is the community thriving? Are the businesses booming? Are your kids running around in rich natural spaces and swimming in clean rivers and coasts? Are tourists flocking to our beautiful coastal home at every opportunity, making their own memories and supporting our local economy? Maybe you see it a whole other way, and we'd love to hear your views.

This Smart Village Strategic Plan is created by the people, for the people, for a sustainable future.

Three pillars

  • Environment

    Courtown's natural heritage and outdoor public spaces are some of the area's greatest assets - free, healthy, outdoor activity with views of Courtown Woods, the Ounavarra River and out into the Irish Sea. Using the Smart Village Strategy, we can protect these public assets to drive tourism and grow local businesses in a sustainable, locally sensitive way.

  • Community

    We have a rich cultural heritage and many caring members. But the community has changed significantly over the past decade, and a growing population hasn't been matched by improvements to essential physical and social infrastructure. This plan highlights the community's needs and offers ways to improve local wellbeing and a sense of belonging.

  • Economy

    Our local economy has changed a lot over the decades. We may have lost the Ballroom, the Bayview and the Beach, but we still have a rich local economic fabric - unique, attractive businesses providing culture and service. Driven by on-the-ground local knowledge, this plan sets a platform to encourage beneficial business, infrastructure and services.

Our four-stage strategic process

  • 1

    Local consultation & engagement

  • 2

    Audit resources & challenges.

  • 3

    Create Smart Village Strategic Plan report

  • 4

    Smart mapping of opportunities

Help shape the next five years

This plan is built by the community, for the community. Share your views, read the strategy, or see the survey findings behind it.