Laytown
Encyclopedia
Laytown is a village on the R150 regional road
on the Irish Sea
coast of County Meath
, Ireland
. Historically it was called Ninch , after the townland
it occupies. Together with the neighbouring villages of Mornington
and Bettystown
it comprises the census town
of Laytown-Bettystown-Mornington
.
, sit on one of Ireland's most scenic beachfronts. The beach stretches from Mornington at the River Boyne
, which borders County Louth
to Gormanston at the River Delvin, which borders County Dublin
.
Laytown sits on the mouth of the River Nanny, a tidal estuary
where mullet, trout, eels, gobies and flounder can be caught - but no salmon. According to local folklore, Saint Patrick
banished all the salmon from the river. By an old schoolhouse overlooking the river there is a spring known as St Patrick's Well, though the access path to it is overgrown.
and Dundalk
to Connolly station in Dublin. Laytown railway station
opened on 25 May 1844 and was renamed as Laytown & Bettystown in 1913. An express coach service links Laytown, Bettystown and Sonairte with Parnell Street in Dublin.
Sonairte: The National Ecology Centre, is half a mile from the station on the Dublin road. http://www.sonairte.org
and Michael Collins
) and television shows have been filmed all over Laytown, mostly on the beach.
have made it the subject of a documentary, titled Racing the Tide, and have included passages in their Coast
and Countryfile
programmes.
Regional road
A regional road in Ireland is a class of road not forming a major route , but nevertheless forming a link in the national route network. There are over 11,600 kilometres of regional roads. Regional roads are numbered with three digit route numbers, prefixed by "R" A regional road in Ireland is a...
on the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
coast of County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. Historically it was called Ninch , after the townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
it occupies. Together with the neighbouring villages of Mornington
Mornington, County Meath
Mornington is a coastal townland in County Meath, Ireland. Together with the neighbouring villages of Laytown and Bettystown it comprises the census town of Laytown-Bettystown-Mornington....
and Bettystown
Bettystown
Bettystown , previously known as Betaghstown, 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...
it comprises the census town
Census town
In India, a census town is one which has:# A minimum population of 5,000# At least 75% of male working population engaged in non-agricultural pursuits# A density of population of at least 400 persons per km2.In Ireland, a census town is;...
of Laytown-Bettystown-Mornington
Laytown-Bettystown-Mornington
Laytown-Bettystown-Mornington is a census town in County Meath, Ireland, comprising the adjoining villages of Laytown, Bettystown and Mornington. It had a population of 5597 at the 2002 census. The coastline stretches from the River Boyne, which borders County Louth to the River Delvin, which...
.
History
The surrounding area is known to have been settled for around 1500 years; recent excavations have revealed settlement at Laytown since at least the 6th century AD.Archaeological finds
- On the famous beach at Bettystown, one of the biggest historical finds in Irish history was made. In 1850 a peasant woman claimed (rather implausibly) to have found the Tara BroochTara BroochThe Tara Brooch is a Celtic brooch of about 700 AD generally considered to be the most impressive of over 50 elaborate Irish brooches to have been discovered...
in a box buried in the sand. Many think it was in fact found inland and the claim was made to avoid a legal claim by the landowner of the actual find site, wherever that was. The Tara Brooch is now on display in the National Museum of IrelandNational Museum of IrelandThe National Museum of Ireland is the national museum in Ireland. It has three branches in Dublin and one in County Mayo, with a strong emphasis on Irish art, culture and natural history.-Archaeology:...
in Dublin. - An archeological dig in 2000 revealed early Christian graves of around 50 people and a Bronze AgeBronze AgeThe Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
enclosure. Artefacts recovered include a Hiberno-Norse ring pin, though this may signify mere contact or trade with Vikings rather than their actual presence in the area. - A blue glass bead of the early Christian period was found at the rath at Ninch West associated in legend with Laeg mac Riangabra, Cuchulain’s charioteer, from whom Laytown is said to take its name.
- The mound at The Ninch said to be the tomb of Lay was excavated in 1982/3 by Prof. Sweetman and found to contain two Iron Age interments http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/925/laytown_an_inse.html
Geography
Laytown is 50 km (30 mi) north of the nation's capital, Dublin. Laytown and neighboring town, BettystownBettystown
Bettystown , previously known as Betaghstown, 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...
, sit on one of Ireland's most scenic beachfronts. The beach stretches from Mornington at the River Boyne
River Boyne
The River Boyne is a river in Leinster, Ireland, the course of which is about long. It rises at Trinity Well, Newbury Hall, near Carbury, County Kildare, and flows towards the Northeast through County Meath to reach the Irish Sea between Mornington, County Meath and Baltray, County Louth. Salmon...
, which borders County Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
to Gormanston at the River Delvin, which borders County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
.
Laytown sits on the mouth of the River Nanny, a tidal estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
where mullet, trout, eels, gobies and flounder can be caught - but no salmon. According to local folklore, Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
banished all the salmon from the river. By an old schoolhouse overlooking the river there is a spring known as St Patrick's Well, though the access path to it is overgrown.
Buildings of note
Many of Laytown's larger buildings, including the train station master's house and the large terrace homes facing onto the beach were built in the mid-nineteenth century. The architecture of the Church of the Sacred Heart is of particular note: the facade is retained from the original nineteenth century, but the main building is a 1970s circular-plan single room with a large window overlooking the Irish Sea. On the hill behind the window is a twenty-foot wooden cross. http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=ME®no=14319011Transport & communications
The village has become well established as a commuter town for people working in Dublin, fuelled by the completion of the M1 motorway linking the north east of the country to the capital. The village is served by the Northern commuter train line linking DroghedaDrogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
and Dundalk
Dundalk
Dundalk is the county town of County Louth in Ireland. It is situated where the Castletown River flows into Dundalk Bay. The town is close to the border with Northern Ireland and equi-distant from Dublin and Belfast. The town's name, which was historically written as Dundalgan, has associations...
to Connolly station in Dublin. Laytown railway station
Laytown railway station
Laytown railway station serves Laytown and Bettystown in County Meath, Ireland. The station opened on 25 May 1844 and was renamed as Laytown & Bettystown in 1913. It was since renamed back to Laytown. It is about 20 minutes' walk from the venue of yearly Laytown races.- External links :*...
opened on 25 May 1844 and was renamed as Laytown & Bettystown in 1913. An express coach service links Laytown, Bettystown and Sonairte with Parnell Street in Dublin.
Amenities
The town has a garda station and a primary school and Gaelscoil. Coláiste na hInse in Laytown has been given the go ahead to go to tender for 1,000 pupils with a special needs unit. The village also consists of three pubs, two newsagents, a pharmacy, two take-aways and a train station.Sonairte: The National Ecology Centre, is half a mile from the station on the Dublin road. http://www.sonairte.org
Laytown on film
Both Irish and American movies (The Crying GameThe Crying Game
The Crying Game is a 1992 psychological thriller drama film written and directed by Neil Jordan. The film explores themes of race, gender, nationality, and sexuality against the backdrop of the Irish Troubles...
and Michael Collins
Michael Collins (film)
Michael Collins is a 1996 historical biopic written and directed by Neil Jordan and starring Liam Neeson as General Michael Collins, the Irish patriot and revolutionary who died in the Irish Civil War. It won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival....
) and television shows have been filmed all over Laytown, mostly on the beach.
Laytown today
Laytown was once a tiny coastal village, but in the past decade, the town has seen both a huge population and economic boom. With the ever developing and growing city of Dublin, Laytown, along with other villages and towns all along the east coast, has recorded a population boom. This has brought problems with overcrowded schools.Laytown races
Since 1876 Laytown has hosted a single annual horse racing meeting on its beach - one of only a couple of sand (held on the beach) race meetings run under official rules of racing in Europe. The BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
have made it the subject of a documentary, titled Racing the Tide, and have included passages in their Coast
Coast (TV series)
Coast is a BBC documentary series first broadcast on BBC Two television in 2005. A second series started on 26 October 2006, a third in early 2007 and a fourth in mid-2009...
and Countryfile
Countryfile
Countryfile is a British magazine-style television programme produced by BBC Birmingham, first aired on 24th July 1988, which reports on rural and environmental issues within the United Kingdom. For its first 20 years it was fronted by broadcaster John Craven, until he stepped back from the role of...
programmes.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
- MorningtonMornington, County MeathMornington is a coastal townland in County Meath, Ireland. Together with the neighbouring villages of Laytown and Bettystown it comprises the census town of Laytown-Bettystown-Mornington....
- DonacarneyDonacarneyDonacarney is a village in County Meath, Ireland, close to the border with County Louth. It contains one church, two estates, two schools and a pub. Although it includes the townlands of Donacarney Great and Donacarney Little, most locals would never use those terms in describing...
- East MeathEast MeathEast Meath is an area of County Meath bordering the Irish Sea.It includes the villages of:*Bettystown*Donacarney*Julianstown*Laytown*Mornington-External links:*...
- BettystownBettystownBettystown , previously known as Betaghstown, 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...