Our Harbour

Courtown, historically known as a profitable fishing harbour and popular tourist location for its 'wind swept shores', has evolved significantly through the ages.

The harbour in Courtown was constructed between 1826 - 1847 as part of a distress relief project by Lord Courtown. Prior to the building of the harbour, local fishermen had no safe refuge to land their boats. Once built, goods landed or shipped from Courtown harbour included fish, bacon, butter in firkin, coal, corn, lime, kelp, oakum, salt, porter, parrafin oil, timber and bricks. It also gave much needed employment to the poor in the area.

The harbour was designed by renowned civil engineer Sir Alexander Nimmo who also designed Roundstone Village in Galway, Sarsfield Bridge in Limerick and Dunmore East harbour in Waterford. The original pier as designed by Nimmo was to run in a north easterly direction beneath Breanoge Head. Unfortunately this pier was washed away in 1833 by south easterly storms while still under construction. It was never rebuilt. The south pier which was built in it's present position suffers from a constant buildup of silt and needs dredging on a regular basis.

Today the harbour is mainly used to support a number of recreational sailing boats which are lifted in and out of the harbour at the beginning and end of every sailing season. There is still a small number of fishing boats operatiing in the harbour. Whelks being the main catch.

CCC continues to work diligently with local organisations and statutory bodies to help protect the heritage of the harbour and to enhance it's amenities for all to enjoy safely.