Wexford County Council under increasing pressure to reopen Courtown beach

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

The reappearance of a beach in Courtown has led a member of Wexford County Council (WCC) to question whether it’s here to stay or is just a temporary visitor. In an exchange at the June meeting of the Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District (GKMD) Councillor Darragh McDonald and environmental engineer Enda Brennan debated the lifespan of a beach which, against all odds, has returned to the Wexford coastline.

“A significant portion of the beach is back, whether it’s temporary or permanent I don’t know, I’m not an expert,” said Cllr McDonald. “But we need to re-examine the health and safety element there. People are using the beach again."

With coastal erosion an issue in the area, rock armour had been installed along the length of the Courtown beach to protect what remained of the once famous beach. Now however, that rock armour, combined with a closed boardwalk and fencing, has contrived to close off access to the beach.

“It shouldn’t be closed any more,” argued Cllr McDonald. “There has to be some logic applied here, it’s a public amenity that people want to use, and we’re blocking them from using it. I think they’re right to do so. We’re not really working with the people on this.”

The Fine Gael councillor received support from Cllr Nicky Boland.

“At this stage something has to be done,” he said. “It’s very dangerous and people are having to walk around the boardwalk to get down there, so either reinstate it or take it out altogether.”

Noting that the boardwalk had been closed for safety reasons, Mr Brennan said the beach was only present at certain times of the day.

“The beach returns at low tide and then at high tide it’s gone,” he said.

“It’s there all the time,” insisted Cllr McDonald.