Established in September 1982, Ashbourne Parish was formed from the division of Ratoath and Curraha. It is the newest of the 69 parishes in the Diocese of Meath, which borders the county and the Archdiocese of Dublin. Ashbourne Parish neighbours three other Meath parishes: Dunboyne, Curraha, and Ratoath. The parish includes churches in both Ashbourne and Donaghmore.

Located on Swords Road, St. Patrick’s Church in Donaghmore is 2 km outside Ashbourne, serving a small rural community. Church records from 1788 indicate that a chapel had been built in Donaghmore, on a larger scale than its predecessor. Fifty years later, this chapel is described as an “ancient edifice situated in an old burial ground.” By 1840, Donaghmore Church was relocated outside the cemetery, thanks to the efforts of Father Gough, parishioners, and friends from Curraha.

The name “Donaghmore” originates from the Irish phrase “Domhnach Mór,” which translates to “great church.” This name is commonly found throughout Ireland, as it is traditionally associated with St. Patrick’s mission in the fifth century. Given the proximity of the Hill of Slane, it is fitting that our parish church is named after the national saint. The faithful gather for Mass on Sundays at 10 a.m.

At the heart of the urban town of Ashbourne stands the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Richard Bourne, the son of Frederick, who founded Ashbourne, provided the land for the church in 1881 in the hamlet established by his father. The church officially opened in 1889 and is dedicated to Mary under the title of her Immaculate Conception. A century later, in 1981, a modern extension was added to the original structure to accommodate the growing Catholic congregation.

Fr. Martin Burke was Ashbourne’s first parish priest from 1982 to 1998. He was followed by Fr. Jim Lynch, who served as the second pastor for 15 years. Fr. Derek Darby started as a curate under Fr. Jim and later became the parish priest for six years. The fourth pastor, Fr. John Nally, led the parish through the challenging years of COVID-19. In July 2021, Fr. Michael Kilmartin succeeded his predecessor as the parish priest.

Priests serve the faithful within our parish and work in tandem with them to live and pass on the Christian faith. This website provides an overview of our parish and the Catholic faith. It shares our Sunday newsletters, lists our Mass Times, explains how the sacraments are celebrated, and keeps the community informed about parish activities.