The Fishermans Way

Long before the harbour arrived, this coastline had a thriving local industry in fishing. That only grew once the harbour was built and the Train began to stop in the nearby town of Gorey in the mid 1800s. But Courtown as a village only arrived with the harbour. Before that, the fishermen lived in the nearby villages of Riverchapel and Ballymoney. Their main crops included Mackeral and Cod. But in the 1700s it is said that there were many oyster beds along this coast too! This path is known locally either as Fishermans Way or Fishermans Walk as it is the original path taken by the maritime workers from their homes to the mouth of the Ounnavarra River. It also kept anyone from trespassing on Lord Courtowns estate!