ACTIVITIES IN WEXFORD

Cycling

Fishing

Horseriding

Golf

By Orla Rapple

Orla Rapple finds plenty of activities for parents and children in Courtown in Co. Wexford.

The name Courtown Harbour will bring back fond memories to Dubliners living abroad.

The seaside village is just under 60 miles from the Irish capital and is a Mecca for Dubliners in summer months. As a result the village is full of amenities including pubs, clubs, restaurants and leisure centres.

Courtown is such a well-known tourist destination that RTÉ made a programme there in 1999. Harbour Nights was a television hit but Courtown Harbour has changed for the better since then.

Visitors to Courtown in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s will remember the Tara Ballroom, where many romances blossomed. The Tara has long gone but in its place is the Courtown Leisure Complex that includes Skippers Lounge and the Beacon nightclub.

Another not-so-new addition to Courtown is Pirates’ Cove, a complex that offers a great bowling alley, adventure golf and children’s fun caves.

Another recent attraction is the Forest Park Leisure Centre near Courtown’s woodlands, which has a swimming pool, slides and a gym.

Courtown has a good selection of restaurants to suit any palette and price range.

Lovers of more traditional cuisine will enjoy the Cottage Restaurant in Riverchapel, which is just a short walk from Courtown. It has an extensive a la carte menu and steak as a speciality. The Bosun’s Chair is more expensive but has an excellent menu that will attract lovers of seafood.

Pirates’ Cove also offers food during the summer, including a selection of steaks and seafood. For those with an oriental outlook, try Yaus which has a great range of both Cantonese and Chinese cuisine.

Those who are more nature-minded will not be disappointed by Courtown’s many attractions. The village’s woodland was once part of the Earl of Courtown’s estate and is planted with exotic conifers and redwoods from California. There are picnic areas and walks throughout, with fine views of the Ounavara River.

Three miles from Courtown is Tara Hill where there are many nature walks where you will find magnificent views of miles of coastline.

Courtown can boast some of the most beautiful beaches in the southeast and the village was awarded the Blue Flag, presented to safe and clean beaches throughout Europe.

Accommodation in Courtown comes in many forms — the village is inundated with caravan parks but Dubliners, who have been coming to the area for years, own most of these.

There are a number of hotels, including the Taravie Hotel and the Bayview, which offers both hotel and self-catering accommodation. Most of the rooms in the Bayview have sweeping views of the coast and harbour.

If you are feeling really extravagant then try Marlfield House on the Courtown Road. Once owned by the Earl of Courtown, this is a sumptuous country hotel, set in magnificent grounds with a great reputation for excellent food featuring organic ingredients from the hotel’s own garden.

Visitors to Marlfield House in the past have included such big names as Pierce Brosnan, U2 and Tom Hanks. However, be warned, prices for the hotel start at E222 per night.

For more reasonable accommodation, check out some of the many self-catering apartments available in Courtown. Woodside Holiday Homes are among the best on offer — spacious houses, close to all amenities which start at about E249 per week.

You will not be disappointed by this beautiful and almost unspoilt seaside resort.

More information on Courtown and the North Wexford area can be found at www.northwexford.com.