Why stop in Ashbourne
Ashbourne barely existed two hundred years ago. The town was laid out around 1820 by Frederick Bourne along his own toll road running from Dublin to the old settlement of Killegland, and he named it after himself and his favourite tree – ‘ash’ and ‘Bourne’. It has grown fast since: the population roughly tripled from about 4,900 in 1996 to 15,680 by the 2022 census, which makes it one of the busier commuter towns in County Meath, 20 km north of Dublin and close to the M2.
Be straight about what that means. Ashbourne is a place people live rather than a place people tour – a working town of shops, pubs and housing estates. For most visitors, the reason to come is a single attraction on its edge: Emerald Park.
Emerald Park
Emerald Park – you’ll still hear it called Tayto Park, its name until 2023 – is the biggest amusement park in Ireland. It pairs thrill rides and a junior area with a zoo of more than 250 animals, and it’s the one thing in Ashbourne worth planning a full day around. It gets busy through the summer and on fine bank-holiday weekends, so book online before you travel and arrive near opening. Phone: +353 1 835 1999.
The 1916 Battle of Ashbourne
On 28 April 1916, in the last days of the Easter Rising, about 45 Fingal Volunteers led by Thomas Ashe and Richard Mulcahy attacked the Royal Irish Constabulary barracks at Ashbourne. It was one of the few Volunteer actions to succeed outside Dublin. The memorial at Rath Cross, on the edge of town, was unveiled in 1959 by President Seán T. O’Kelly and remembers the two Volunteers who died in the fighting.
Older Ashbourne
People were here long before Frederick Bourne. The town’s earlier name was Killegland (Irish: Cill Dhéagláin, ‘Déaglán’s church’), and the ruins of Killegland Castle – a 15th-century tower house once held by the Segrave family – still stand, reached from Castle Street. When the Lidl supermarket was built, archaeologists digging the site turned up medieval house foundations, field systems, fish traps and mill races: proof that the frozen-food aisle sits on top of a working medieval settlement.
Getting there
By road – Ashbourne is about 20 km north of Dublin, close to the M2, with quick runs to the M50 and Dublin Airport. Town-centre parking is pay-and-display, with the first hour free at some spots.
By bus – Bus Éireann runs regular services linking Ashbourne with Dublin and Navan.
Staying over – the four-star Pillo Hotel (with a sensory suite) and the two-star Ashbourne Court Hotel anchor the town, with family-run guest houses and the Broadmeadow country house nearby.
Around the town
- Ashbourne Golf Club – an 18-hole parkland course of 5,884 metres, par 71, framed by mature trees and water.
- Markets – regular market days bring fresh produce and crafts to the town centre.
Nearby day trips
Ashbourne makes a workable base for the heart of the Ancient East:
- Hill of Tara – the ceremonial seat of the High Kings, a short drive west.
- Brú na Bóinne – the passage tombs of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth in the Boyne Valley.
- Trim – Ireland’s largest Norman castle and a compact medieval streetscape.
- Bective Abbey – a well-preserved Cistercian ruin in quiet parkland.
If you’ve come for Emerald Park, make a day of it – and if the legs hold out afterwards, the Hill of Tara is half an hour west and free to wander.