Bettystown

Bettystown
Baile an Bhiataigh
Village
Neptune Hotel, Bettystown
Bettystown
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53°42′05″N 6°14′46″W / 53.7014°N 6.2461°W / 53.7014; -6.2461Coordinates: 53°42′05″N 6°14′46″W / 53.7014°N 6.2461°W / 53.7014; -6.2461
Country Ireland
Province Leinster
County County Meath
Elevation 2 m (7 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Urban 10,889
  as part of Laytown-
Bettystown-Mornington
Irish Grid Reference O156734
Beach of Bettystown

Bettystown (Irish: Baile an Bhiataigh), previously known as Betaghstown transliterated to Beattystown/Bettystown,[2] is a small village in an area known as East Meath within County Meath, Ireland. Together with the neighbouring villages of Laytown and Mornington it comprises the census town of Laytown-Bettystown-Mornington with a combined population of 10,889 at the 2011 Census.[1]

During the Celtic Tiger, with increasing property prices in Dublin, Bettystown expanded to cater for large numbers of commuters to Dublin. In 2007,[3] it was announced that in revisions to Dáil Constituency boundaries for 2012, Bettystown and Laytown as far as the River Nanny would be ceded from the three-seat constituency of Meath East to the five-seat constituency of Louth.

Transport

The Dublin and Drogheda Railway line opened on 25 May 1844 with a station at Bettystown. However, this station was to close soon after in November 1847[4] and since then the village has been served by Laytown railway station also opened on the Dublin and Drogheda Railway line on 25 May 1844[4] (renamed as Laytown & Bettystown in 1913). The opening of the M1 motorway between Dublin and Northern Ireland as well as the frequent rail service from Laytown to Dublin have made commuting a realistic option. Bus Éireann route 190 provides several daily services between Laytown and Drogheda via Bettystown and Mornington.[5]

Education

There are two primary schools in Laytown/Bettystown which follow a Catholic ethos. They are Scoil Oilibhear Naofa Junior School and Scoil an Spioraid Naomh Senior School. Scoil Oilibhear Naofa is a recently built school.

There are also two multi-denominational schools outside the town that service East Meath and South Drogheda. They are Le Cheile Educate Together National School and Gaelscoil an Bhradain Feasa. Le Cheile Educate Together National School is sited on grounds provided by another South Drogheda school, Drogheda Grammar.

A new secondary school (Colaiste na hInse) has been built in Laytown which services the East Meath area.

Recreation

Leisure facilities in the Bettystown area include Funtasia, an amusement park, a tennis club and a golf course. Funtasia is an indoor family fun center,[6] with bowling, pool and 'fairground' rides.

The resident professional at Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club is R. J. Browne. He has been coach to Des Smyth and Darren Clarke. The club celebrated 100 years in 2009. Several club members have been capped for Ireland: Declan Branigan, Des Smyth, Val Smyth and Robert Cannon.

Ireland held the European Land Sailing championships in September 2017 from the 11th to the 15th on Bettystown beach. Over 100 European sailors competed over this 5 day period of competitions.[7]

Archaeology

On the beach at Bettystown, one of Ireland's most notable historical finds was made. In 1850 a local woman claimed to have found the Tara Brooch in a box buried in the sand. The Tara Brooch is now on display in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.

References

  1. 1 2 "Census 2011 – Population Classified by Area" (PDF). Central Statistics Office Census 2011 Reports. Central Statistics Office Ireland. April 2012. Retrieved 2013-01-08.
  2. ↑ Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837) - Betaghstown or Bettystown Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ "Report on Dáil and European Parliament Constituencies 2007" (PDF). Constituency Commission. 23 October 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 November 2007. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Bettystown station" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 2010-01-10.
  5. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  6. ↑ "Funtasia Bettystown | Entertainment Centre Meath". Family Fun. 2010-08-09. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
  7. ↑ [afloat.ie afloat.ie] Check |url= value (help). Missing or empty |title= (help)

See also

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