"Cradle of Irish civilisation" Laytown by iaint

Laytown Travel Guide: 6 reviews and 10 photos

Why Laytown?

The attraction was the horse racing. Everything flowed from that!

All you'll ever need to know about the horse racing is in my sports travel tip, so I won't flog it to death here...

what else?

Steph + Gerry

First up, instead of going to the racing on my own I posted it as a VT meet. At the last minute, Stephanie signed up. She was in Dublin with husband Gerry following the Halifax VT meet.

I picked them up at Dublin Airport (they took the bus out to meet me, so we didn't spend half the day in Dublin traffic) and off we went in Mr Avis' little Ford Zetec.

the big day out

Brú na Bóinne

We met at 10. Horse racing started at 3, and was only a 30 minute drive from the airport.

Accordingly, we'd decided to do something touristy before lunch. We headed for Newgrange, near Drogheda. All the information about that is on my "things to do" tip, but suffice to say its a Neolithic (ie 5000 years old) burial site.

After that, quick lunch and off to the races. After the races, back into the little Zetec and back to Dublin airport.

It was a great day out, and they were super company (although I almost got a bit ratty with Gerry for winning so much money at the races). It was all a testament to the power and success of VT!

Pros and Cons

Pros:real Ireland
Cons:real Irish weather
In a nutshell:back next year?

Last visit to Laytown: Sep 2008
Intro Updated Sep 12, 2008
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Reviews (6)

Grand Opera winning the 4.35 race - Laytown

Laytown Strand Races Sports & Outdoors (1)

Fun, fun, fun... Laytown Strand Races are unique. Its the only horse race meeting in Europe which takes place under... more travel advice

standing stones and burial chamber - Laytown

Brú na Bóinne Things to Do (1)

We visited the Newgrange grave site, being one of 3 sites forming the Brú na Bóinne (Palace of the Boyne). It was built... more travel advice

shuttles Transportation (3)

You can pick up a free shuttle bus opposite the railway station (which is also where the official car parks are... more travel advice

Ruinair? Transportation (3)

I flew to/from Dublin with Ryanair, my "home" airport being Edinburgh. It was the first time I'd flown with it since... more travel advice

Restaurants (1)
roadside food

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Comments (1)

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nickandchris Aug 11, 2009 at 2:19 PM

Not like the beaches at Ardtoe,eh? Have still to get to Ireland although the cost of living seems outrageously expensive.