| Bettystown Baile an Bhiataigh
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| — Village — | |
| Neptune Hotel, Bettystown | |
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Bettystown
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | County Meath |
| Elevation | 2 m (7 ft) |
| Population (2006)[1] | |
| • Urban | 8,978 |
| as part of Laytown- Bettystown-Mornington |
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| Irish Grid Reference | O156734 |
Bettystown (Irish: Baile an Bhiataigh), previously known as Betaghstown,[2] is a small, rapidly expanding, village in County Meath, Ireland. Together with the neighbouring villages of Laytown and Mornington it comprises the census town of Laytown-Bettystown-Mornington. In recent years, with the huge increases in Dublin house prices, Bettystown expanded to cater for large numbers of commuters to Dublin. 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 to the five-seat constituency of Louth. There is a certain logic to this development since the area forms the southern hinterland of the town of Drogheda in Co. Louth. However, the change is unlikely to be universally welcomed among the population who administratively, and for the purposes of local government elections, remain in County Meath.
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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[3] 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.
Bettystown Centre contains three supermarkets, two pharmacies, take away food outlets, four pubs, three hotels and is also home to the newly relocated East Meath Credit Union and is home to the new secondary School Colaiste na hInse.
Leisure facilities in the Bettystown area include Funtasia, an amusement park with a variety of attractions, a golf course and a dive centre offering a range of courses, trips to local dive sites and organised trips further afield.
The golf course has excellent putting surfaces all year round as well as a good layout. The resident professional is RJ Browne who has been at the club for many decades. He has been coach to many players including Des Smyth and Darren Clarke. The course par is 71 and course record is 64 (7 under par). The club celebrates 100 years in 2009. Several club members have been capped for Ireland. Declan Branigan,Des Smyth, Val Smyth, Robert Cannon.
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