Baltray (historically Ballytra, from Irish: Baile Trá, meaning 'town of the beach')[2] is a village and townland in County Louth, Ireland. It sits on the northern shore of the River Boyne estuary.

Baltray
Baile Trá
Village
Restored thatched cottage in Baltray
Restored thatched cottage in Baltray
Baltray is located in Ireland
Baltray
Baltray
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53°44′N 6°16′W / 53.733°N 6.267°W / 53.733; -6.267
CountryIreland
ProvinceLeinster
CountyCounty Louth
Population132
Standing Stones at Baltray
Shipwreck on Baltray strand

Amenities

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The village has developed since the latter half of the twentieth century as a dormitory village serving the nearby town of Drogheda,[citation needed] which is located inland, to the west of Baltray. Baltray has a public house.

Baltray is home to the County Louth Golf Club.[3] This links course has hosted several championships over its history, including the Irish Open in 2004 and 2009.

The area is also known for the "Baltray standing stones", a group of megaliths.[4]

Transport

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Bus Éireann route 168 serves Baltray several times a day linking it to Drogheda, Duleek, Ashbourne, Termonfeckin and Clogherhead.[5][6] Drogheda railway station is approximately 8 km distant.

Conservation

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Baltray is home to the Little Tern Conservation Project which is run by Louth Nature Trust.[7] The project began in 2007 and runs each year from May to August when part of the beach at the Haven is fenced to protect nesting Little Terns. These birds are an Annex 1 species under the EU Birds Directive (79/409/EEC), thus EU member states are required to take special conservation measures to ensure that little terns remain at a favourable conservation status.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "Baltray (Ireland) Census Town". City Population. April 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Baile Trá / Baltray (see archival records)". logainm.ie. Placenames Database of Ireland. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  3. ^ "County Louth Golf Club, Baltray". countylouthgolfclub.com. County Louth Golf Club. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Baltray Stone Alignment". megalithicireland.com. Megalithic Ireland. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Route 168 - Dundalk to Drogheda via Termonfeckin" (PDF). buseireann.ie. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  6. ^ "News - Planned Revision to Route 189/189A Ashbourne-Drogheda -Clogher Head-Grangebellow service". buseireann.ie. Bus Éireann. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Louth Nature Trust". louthnaturetrust.org. Retrieved 6 February 2020. Louth Nature Trust's objectives include [..] Managing the Little Tern Conservation Project at Baltray