Bettystown
| Bettystown Irish: Baile an Bhiataigh | |
| Meath | |
|---|---|
 Neptune Hotel, Bettystown | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | O156734 |
| Location: | 53°42’5"N, 6°14’46"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 10,889 (As part of Laytown- Bettystown-Mornington, 2011[1]) |
| Post town: | Bettystown |
| Postcode: | A92 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Meath |
| Dáil constituency: |
Louth |
Bettystown is a picturesque coastal village in Meath. 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 boom years of the Celtic Tiger economy, with increasing property prices in Dublin, Bettystown expanded to cater for large numbers of commuters to Dublin.
Transport & communications
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[2] 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[2] (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. Several daily bus services are provided between Laytown and Drogheda via Bettystown and Mornington.[3]
Amenities
Bettystown contains three supermarkets, two pharmacies, several take away food outlets and restaurants, a pub and the East Meath Credit Union. There are a number of local schools, both primary and secondary.
Leisure facilities in the Bettystown area include Funtasia, an amusement park, a tennis club and a golf course.
Archaeological finds and myths
On the beach at Bettystown, one of Ireland's most notable historical finds was made. In 1850 a peasant 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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Census 2011 – Population Classified by Area" (PDF). Central Statistics Office Census 2011 Reports. Central Statistics Office Ireland. April 2012. http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/documents/census2011vol1andprofile1/Census%202011%20-%20Population%20Classified%20by%20Area.pdf. Retrieved 2013-01-08.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Bettystown station". Railscot - Irish Railways. http://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf. Retrieved 2010-01-10.
- ↑ http://buseireann.ie/pdf/1261645889-190.pdf
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Bettystown) |