Gorey Voyage Tips and guide

Gorey is a market town in County Wexford. It's 41 km north of Wexford and has become a commuter town for Dublin 90 km to the north; in 2022 the population was 11,500.

Courtown and Riverchapel are small beach resorts 8 km southeast of Gorey.

Gorey in Irish is Guaire, and depending on who you ask, it means a sandbank, or the bristles of a horse, or somebody's name, or a place with many goats . . . frankly they've no idea. This lowland area has good farmland and transport and was in the first part of Ireland to be settled by the Anglo-Normans. It was rebuilt as a planned town from the 17th century. The railway arrived in 1863.

Courtown was developed as a fishing port in the mid 19th century as a famine relief project. It's morphed into a beach resort encrusted with caravan sites.

52°40′12″N 6°16′30″W

Map of Gorey

By road from Dublin follow N11 / M11 south through County Wicklow and reckon 90 min. From Rosslare ferry port take N25 towards Wexford then join N11 / M11 north.

Five trains a day run from Dublin Connolly, taking just under 2 hours via Dún Laoghaire, Bray, Wicklow Town, Rathdrum and Arklow. They continue from Gorey to Enniscorthy, Wexford, Rosslare Strand and Rosslare Europort the ferry terminal. See Irish Rail for timetables and tickets.

52.6712-6.29231 Gorey railway station is 500 m south of town centre by the shopping centre.

By bus there's competition on the route from Dublin. Expressway Bus 2 / X2 runs hourly from Dublin Airport and Busáras via Arklow to Gorey, and continues to Enniscorthy and Wexford. Wexford Bus 740 also runs hourly from the airport, with several stops in central Dublin (but not Busáras), then Arklow bypass, Gorey, Enniscorthy and Wexford. The 740 bypasses Wicklow Town but the 740A stops there. The bus stop in Gorey is on Main St by Market Square.

Bus 879 plies between Gorey, Courtown and Riverchapel, taking 15 min. In summer it's hourly, the rest of the year there are only 3 services M-Sa.

Taxi firms are Creagh Cabs (+353 87 149 2217), Spudz (+353 87 127 4650), RJs (+353 85 786 7073) and Gorey Taxi (+353 87 161 4468).

• Main Street is a broad thoroughfare lined with 2- and 3-storey 19th-century buildings, much improved since 2007 when the M11 bypass took away the traffic congestion. The centrepiece is the Market House, built 1709.
• Gaslamp Gallery is a small commercial gallery and art shop at Esmonde St Y25 V086, open M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-4:30PM.
• 52.645-6.2291 Courtown is a beach resort village 7 km east of Gorey; it's merged into Riverchapel to the south. The Seal Rescue Centre is open daily 10AM-5PM. The harbour was built circa 1850 as a famine relief project.
• 52.7-6.2172 Tara Hill is only 253 m (830 ft) (a "Marilyn") but it rises prominently from the low coastal plain and commands fine views. The main path to the top starts from Tara village just south. Not to be confused with the Royal Hill of Tara in County Meath, still less with Tara Hills near San Pablo California.
• 52.6757-6.25113 Kia Ora Mini Farm, Courteencurragh Y25 RX60, ☏ +353 86 878 8424. Apr-Oct daily 10AM-5:30PM, Dec-Mar Sa Su noon-5PM. Show farm with animals to pet and feed, plus amusements and mechanical diggers. Adult or child €10. (updated Dec 2025)
• 52.683-6.3834 Craanford (sic) is a village 7 km west of Gorey with a restored 17th-century watermill.
• 52.7358-6.26995 Wexford Lavender Farm is at Coolnagloose Y25 NW42, open Apr-Oct.
• Ferns: see Enniscorthy for this village to the south with a castle and several historic religious sites.
• Fr Murphy Centre: see Enniscorthy for this priest who became a leader of the Wexford rebels.

• What's on? Read Gorey Guardian, published Wednesday.
• Little Theatre is at Pearse St Y25 R729.
• Cinema: Movies@Gorey is a multiplex at Courtown Rd Y25 KR12 opposite Marlfield House Hotel.
• Golf: the courses are around Courtown, with Courtown GC, 5898 m par 71, Ballymoney, 6337 yards par 71, and Tara Glen which is a resort with a 9-hole course.
• 52.7077-6.30291 Riverside Equestrian Centre, Barnland, Gorey Y25 T9Y5, ☏ +353 85 231 3459. Daily 8:30AM-6PM. Horse-riding lessons, treks and hacking. (updated Dec 2025)
• Market House Festival is a weekend in July, with Main Street closed to traffic. All events are free.

• There's a SuperValu on Main St, and Tesco Extra west edge of town.
• Gorey Shopping Centre is on The Avenue near the railway station, open M-Sa 9AM-6PM, Su noon-6PM.
• There are four banks with exterior ATMs along Gorey Main St, and one in Courtown village centre.

• Places on Gorey Main St include Eco Pizzeria, Mi Street Food, The Kitchen, Table 41, The Bistro, Kuro, Joanne's Cafe, Raspberry, One Hundred Degrees and Coach House Bar.
• Near Gorey the standout is The Duck within Marlfield House, see Sleep.
• Courtown has a string of cheap and cheerful places for the beach and caravan-park crowd: pizza, Chinese, fish & chips.

• A slew of pubs along Gorey Main St includes Bob's Bar, French's, Katie Daly's, The Fowler, McGovern's, Browne's, Nell Sweeney's and Oscars 64. A block north on Pearse St are Breen's and Paddy Blues.
• Courtown village centre has 19th Hole and Ambrose Moloney's.

• No camping or tourer caravan sites near Gorey. The coast around Courtown is lined with caravan parks, but these are for static units on long lets, and not available for short stays.
• Loch Garman Arms Hotel, 90 Main St Y25 E3V2, ☏ +353 53 942 1513. Straightforward reliable hotel in town centre. Double (room only) €120. (updated Dec 2025)
• 52.6684-6.29011 Amber Springs Hotel, Wexford Rd Y25 FY07, ☏ +353 53 948 4000. Family-oriented hotel, with spa and leisure facilities, restaurants and bars. B&B double €230. (updated Dec 2025)
• 52.6787-6.28522 Ashdown Park Hotel, The Coach Road Y25 V1D6, ☏ +353 53 948 0500. This spa hotel gets great reviews for comfort, service and dining. B&B double €140. (updated Dec 2025)
• 52.6873-6.27923 Railway Country House, Arklow Rd Y25 E6H3, ☏ +353 86 853 2710. Smart welcoming B&B. Small dogs welcome. (updated Dec 2025)
• 52.6688-6.27494 Marlfield House, Courtown Rd, Gorey Y25 DK23, ☏ +353 53 942 1124. Excellent small hotel in Regency building with two fine restaurants, the Conservatory and the less formal Duck. Open Feb-Dec. B&B double €250. (updated Dec 2025)
• Dorney's B&B is further along Courtown Rd Y25 PX37, open Mar-Oct.
• 52.6754-6.21635 Seafield Hotel & Spa, Ballymoney Beach Y25 X2V0, ☏ +353 53 942 4000. Big boxy modern resort hotel and spa. They mostly get it right but too many examples of indifferent food, rooms and cleanliness, considering what you pay. B&B double €220. (updated Dec 2025)

As of Dec 2025, Gorey and its approach roads have 5G from all Irish carriers.

• Wexford the county town has the National Heritage Park, and Johnstown Castle with the Agricultural Museum.
• Enniscorthy was the bastion of the 1798 uprising of United Irishmen: see the museum and final battle site at Vinegar Hill.
• Arklow, scene of a break-out by the 1798 rebels, has a pyramid and a philosophical conundrum by Wittgenstein.

Dublin ← Arklow ←	N  S	→ merges with
merges with ←	N  S	→ Enniscorthy → Wexford