Thousands flock to beach for sandcastle competition festival
16 years on, and the Sandcastles and Sand Sculpturing Competitions at Bettystown and Laytown beaches is still going strong!
A record number of both contestants and onlookers were at this year’s festival, which was testament to the late Dick O’Reilly’s vision to show case our local beaches and encourage young and old to enjoy our beautiful amenity. When one of the winners of the bigger prizes was asked how did it feel to win, she replied “It’s not about winning it’s about making memories for our children”
And what memories we will have after such a wonderful day on the beach off Laytown-Bettystown.
Thousands of men women and children flocked to the beaches to enjoy the Summer Sunshine and build sand castles.
The Chair of Meath County Council Cllr Tom Kelly was on hand to present all the prizes in the various categories for both sandcastles and sand sculpturing. This year’s prizes for the Senior Sand Sculpturing were sponsored by Liz and Roger Pickett, The Cottages Laytown and Jimmy Gilna, The Cottage Inn Laytown.
All Junior Sculpturing prizes were sponsored by Macari’s Takeaway in Bettystown.
The overall winner of the Sandcastles Competition was The Hennessy Family from Kentstown Co Meath. and they received the “Dick O Reilly Perpetual Cup”, presented each year to the individual or group who showed or displayed best effort on the day.
The National Sandcastles and Sand Sculpturing Festival organisers want to thank their other sponsors: F.L.A.G. The Fisheries Local Action Group, UNITAS, Patrick and Margaret Smith Riverside Home and Gift Mornington, Tresses and Tallons of Bettystown, Aileen Smith - The Flower Yard Mornington, Harrys’ Centra Mornington, Pat’s Centra Bettystown, Boyne Valley Foods, Cllr Sharon Tolan and Cllr Tom Kelly.