Bettystown (), previously known as Betaghstown and transliterated to ''Beattystown/Bettystown'', is a 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 In India and some other countries, a census town is designated as a town that satisfies certain characteristics. India In India, a census town is one which is not statutorily notified and administered as a town, but nevertheless whose population ...

of Laytown-Bettystown-Mornington with a combined population of 10,889 at the 2011 Census and 11,872 (with Donacarney) at the 2016 Census. During the Celtic Tiger, with increasing property prices in Dublin, Bettystown expanded to cater for large numbers of commuters to Dublin. The area was well known before that as a spot for Dublin summer holiday visitors, with a number of caravan parks and seaside amusements. In 2007, 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 Meath may refer to: General *County Meath, Republic of Ireland **Kingdom of Meath, medieval precursor of the county ** List of kings of Meath **Meath GAA, including the intercounty football and hurling teams **Diocese of Meath, in the Roman Catholi ...

to the five-seat constituency of

Louth Louth may refer to: Australia *Hundred of Louth, a cadastral unit in South Australia * Louth, New South Wales, a town *Louth Bay, a bay in South Australia **Louth Bay, South Australia, a town and locality Canada * Louth, Ontario Ireland * County ...

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 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 (renamed as ''Laytown & Bettystown'' in 1913).

Bus Éireann Bus Éireann (; "Irish Bus") is a state-owned bus and coach operator providing services throughout Ireland, with the exception of Dublin and the Greater Dublin Area, where bus services are provided by sister company Dublin Bus. It is a subsidia ...

route D1 provides service between Laytown and

Drogheda Drogheda ( , ; , meaning "bridge at the ford") is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, north of Dublin. It is located on the Dublin–Belfast corridor on the east coast of Ireland, mostly in County Louth ...

via Bettystown.

Education

There are two primary schools in Laytown/Bettystown which follow a Catholic ethos. They are Scoil Oilibhéir Naofa (opened in 2005) and Scoil an Spioraid Naomh Senior School. There are also two multi-denominational schools outside the town that service East Meath and South

. 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 secondary school, Coláiste na hInse, was established in 2008.

Recreation

Leisure facilities in the Bettystown area include

Funtasia Funtasia is a chain of entertainment facilities in Ireland. Funtasia operates an indoor and outdoor family entertainment centre in Bettystown as well as a water park in Drogheda. Funtasia Bettystown Funtasia Bettystown is located in Bettystown, ...

, an amusement park, a tennis club and a golf course. Funtasia is an indoor family fun center, with bowling, pool and 'fairground' rides. Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club celebrated 100 years in 2009. Several club members have been capped for Ireland. Ireland held the European Land Sailing championships in September 2017 on Bettystown beach. Over 100 European sailors competed over this 5 day period of competitions. Bettystown beach has been host to the annual National Sandcastle and Sand Sculpturing competition in Ireland since 2003.

Archaeology

In 1850 the Tara Brooch was found on the beach at Bettystown. The Tara Brooch is now on display in the

National Museum of Ireland The National Museum of Ireland ( ga, Ard-Mhúsaem na hÉireann) is Ireland's leading museum institution, with a strong emphasis on national and some international archaeology, Irish history, Irish art, culture, and natural history. It has thre ...

in Dublin.

References

External links