Summer Newsletter '23
It has been a whirlwind of activity at Courtown Community Council as we continue to build on our previous efforts to create a welcoming, sustainable and aesthetically pleasing environment for our expanding diverse community. The energy in Courtown is palpable as we gather together toward an exciting summer season. We are hopeful that the months ahead will see Courtown bustling with activity, but before we are in the middle of it, we wanted to pause and reflect on some recent activities!
We were thrilled to have emerged victorious, securing first place in the Keep Wexford Beautiful Environmental Awards. It is a testament to our unwavering love for our town and our deep-rooted desire to nurture the natural wonders that surround us. This Award not only fills our hearts with pride but also fuels our determination to continue championing environmental stewardship. We also proudly unveiled the results of our Smart Village Strategy. The strategy has been welcomed by all and we now have a community-led blueprint for a smarter, greener, and more interconnected Courtown. It is a plan that embodies the very essence of our community, marrying sustainability with innovation. Our shared vision is to create a community that thrives on innovation, inclusion, and boundless potential. The introduction of the Courtown Regeneration Partnership, a group with representation from all key stakeholders, aims to achieve success in the pursuit of a healthy and sustainable development plan.
We are driven by our commitment to serve our community, ensuring that every individual, young and old, finds their place in this exciting progress. Please take some time to read through a selection of highlights below. In line with the Charity Regulator's Governance Code, as a Registered Charity (Registered Charity No. 20043414), all of the Trustees of CCC serve as volunteers and make no personal gain from any CCC activities. CCC are grateful to all those who are supporting or engaging in our community efforts, and we look forward to this next chapter of consultation and local development. If you want to join us in achieving our goals for our community, contact us on courtowncommunitycouncil32@
Smart Village Plan Launch
Courtown Community Council would like to thank all members of the community who attended the launch and participated in the research that got us to this point. Special thanks also to Councillor Diarmuid Devereux, Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin, Pip Breen, Andrew Bolger, Joe O’Sullivan and Senator Malcolm Byrne for their commitment to working with Courtown Community Council to address the issues and capitalise on the opportunities outlined within the report.
Read the article in the Wexford Independent about the launch event below: Group acknowledges ‘mistakes have been made’ as new working group established to pave way towards democratic planning for Courtown Riverchapel area.
Courtown Regeneration Partnership
As a result of our successful Smart Village Launch in the Ashdown Park Hotel in March, it was agreed an official working group would be established to bridge the gap between the community, local government, local business and local residents. The groups aim is to drive forward the revitalisation of the Courtown District on issues such as provision gaps, key investment proposals, transport, environmental projects, local challenges and enterprise opportunities.
The Courtown Regeneration Partnership (CRP) will hold its inaugural meeting on Monday 8th of May.Please see link below to find out more information and if you would like to register your interest, please message us or email courtowncommunitycouncil32@gmail.com
1st Prize: Wexford Environment Awards
CCC's AGM
Completion of the Riverchapel Linked Walkway
We are delighted to see the completion of the Riverchapel to Courtown Linked Walkway. Many thanks to Wexford County Council. Funding for this project came from the Town and Village Renewal Scheme with the support of a number of local community groups. The project includes upgrades to the picnic area in Riverchapel, a new bus shelter near the Post Office, and much needed renovations to the Harbour seating area. All members of the public are cordially invited to the grand opening on Friday 9th June at 2:30pm.
Enhancements to Courtown's section of the Slí Charman Trail
NeighbourWood Scheme
In February, Courtown Community Council facilitated a joint meeting between the Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, Wexford County Council, Active Tribe, Courotwn Woodland Alliance, and Seal Rescue Ireland. The aim of the meeting was to introduce the associated landowners of different sections of Courtown Woods and Dunes to our contacts at the Forest Service, and assist them in drawing down valuable government funding the the NeighbourWood Scheme. A scheme that was also utilised 25 years ago in Courtown to do a massive amount of work to protect and enhance the ecosystem and amenities. CCC will continue to engage with all the stakeholders to influence habitat restoration, trail maintenance, public amenity improvements, and other important works.
Re-establishment of the Courtown Heritage Group
"The new group is aimed at bringing people together in an effort to compile and archive as much social and local history as possible. Facilitator Linda Sinnott of Courtown Community Council informed those in attendance that there hadn’t been a Heritage Group in Courtown for the past 25 years. It was following the recent Courtown Community Council AGM that a decision was made to bring one back into being."
Crime Prevention Meeting
Clean Water Campaign Funding
CCC has completed work in collaboration with Seal Rescue Ireland (SRI) and the Local Authority Waters Programme under the Community Waters Fund. With SRI, we jointly ran seven community environment events to improve awareness of the importance of clean water, functioning habitat and thriving biodiversity. We also commissioned the development of a citizen science, water quality research project. This project used macroinvertebrate sampling to audit water quality and the presence, or lack of, biodiversity in the small streams leading into the Owenavarragh River, which enters the Irish Sea at Courtown Harbour. The results showed some areas of concern, with heavy pressures on the freshwater ecosystem, but also some areas of promise.
Sad Goodbye and Exciting Welcomes
Courtown Community Council would like to sincerely thank Craig Lang, Melanie Croce, and Jeshua Taucher for their dedicated and productive years of service to CCC, and our local community. Jeshua and Melanie have moved overseas, but you will still find Craig working hard for the betterment of the local area and its people.
CCC are excited to welcome Lorna Fitzpatrick and Sean Thim O'Leary to the Committee. Their skills and addition to the team are greatly valued and we look forward to the impact they will have in our community.
