Woodland Stroll in Courtown. Photo by Mick O Callaghan

Photo of the entrance to The Souteraine in Courtown Woods by Mick O CAllaghan 

I am lucky to live close to Courtown woods and beach. It is fantastic to be able to ramble freely in this majestic area with its well maintained paths and trails, . My most frequent rambles are in the 25-hectare woods which date back to the 12th century. This forested area has had a very chequered history since then with many owners until they were acquired by the state in 1950.They are a real treasure at any time of year.

On entering the woods, I generally follow the long broad Horse Chestnut Avenue of sycamore, horse chestnut and Beech trees and then past the entrance to the souterrain which dates back to the iron age.

The trees here in these ancient woods were planted by the fifth earl of Courtown and include Californian Redwoods, Swamp cypress, Japanese Cedar, Cedars of Lebanon and many more.

My first rest stop on my stroll is the bench at the Old Cross of Kilbride. This is from the early Christian era and marks an old parish boundary of Ballinatray or Baile na trá, the town of the beach. I then progress along the beautiful woodland trail to Ballinatray bridge, built in 1847 during famine years. It is a wonderful structure lording over forest paths and the Owenavorragh River. This was once the highest viaduct in Ireland. It is now part of the main Gorey to Courtown Road, and the original structure is still in place. If you want to photograph this edifice do so in winter when the trees are bare,

Every time I walk along here, I think of the rich history of the place since Ireland was first invaded by Strongbow or Richard de Clare the Norman leader. When they landed down the coast on Baginbun beach in 1190 Strongbow is reputed to have said” At Baginbun Ireland’s war was lost and won. It was the start of the takeover of Ireland.

The first owner of Curtun was one Christian de Marco. I don't think he was a Wexford hurler.

Since those early times Courtown has changed hands several times.

In 1291 during the reign of Edward 1^st, Curton in the county of Wexford was part of the dowry of Queen Eleanor now in the Kings hands from the feast of St Andrew the Apostle.

In 1312 during the reign of Edward 2nd it is said that Maurice Mc Murrough held the Manor of Courtown as tenant at the will of the king’.

During the 9th year of the reign of James 1st, he granted Curtun to Sir Edward Fisher who died in 1631.

It was then passed down to Edward Chichester who finally passed it on to the Stopford family who really developed the `Estate. They continued to live there until the death of Lord Carysfort in the 1970s. The Stopfords built the grandiose Courtown House and the Dowager or dower House which was built for widows of The Lord Courtown.This is now Marlfield House Hotel having been bought by the Bowe family in 1977 when Lady Carysfort could no longer live there.

The Stopfords, which was the family name of the Earls of Courtown, had their own family graveyard which still exists today in the grounds above Charlotte’s well.

In addition to having their own water well they also had a cricket ground, walks for ladies and bachelors, which are still called by those names today.

As I walk by the river along the same routes traversed by the Courtown gentry over many years I admire the diverse vegetation during the summer and autumn. This consists of rhododendrons, ditches full of cow parsley, ivy, foxgloves, ribwort plantain, valerian, the sweet-smelling honeysuckle and many more.

The peace and tranquillity are disturbed by the clatter of birds nesting high in the giant Scots Pine.

I do not allow myself to be distracted for too long by the raucous birds and focus my attention on the vetches and thriving holly bushes while I listen to the more soothing chirping of robins, black birds and thrushes.

The smell of the wild garlic is all pervasive in this section of the woods.

Now I stray onto the historic spike bridge so associated with Lord Courtown and his house until it was burned down in 1923 during the troubles.

I see a little family of ducklings scurrying to the little island in the middle of the river.

Meanwhile I met an excited family out for a stroll, with busy daddy and two hyperactive children trying their best to catch the ducklings. They also wanted to go fishing with their little fishing net and were not listening to daddy warning them of the dangers because of the fast-flowing waters and the depth of the stream. He also attempted to tell them about or

the ban on fishing unless you were a member of the fishing club. Daddy was getting very exacerbated and needing rescuing.

All was saved when we heard a rustle of leaves behind us and saw a busy squirrel

, He stopped momentarily and cheekily looked around at us as much to say, you won’t catch me as he scurried up the tree. The children were distracted by the iora rua and all was well when one of them declared ‘Dad I’m hungry” and they headed for the Dinky chip shop in Courtown. Woodland and family peace was restored.

At the end of two hours of walking and talking I strolled down along the tree lined riverbank, past the seal sanctuary with much noise and clatter while they awaited their fishy midday meal.

On my left is the Canal which was built by The Stopford family as a famine relief project in 1847 to assist the people of Courtown.

Having had my morning constitutional, I checked my pedometer. Yes, I had clocked up 10000 steps. I headed for home and some personal sustenance.

 I thank the good lord above and our chequered Irish history that we have such rich ancient woodland walking trails, filled with historical memories in North County Wexford.

I willl see you all in two weeks time when we will visit the Coillte Woods on the Ballymoney side of the Spike Bridge

Mick O Callaghan                                 February 2026