Ashbourne Parish

08/09/2026

AFTER SCHOOL SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION DATES ⛪️

The after school classes for 2026-2027 will begin on Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd of September in the Ashbourne Parish Centre. Catholic Parents with children attending state schools in Ashbourne who wish their children to
receive the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation must enrol them in two years
of Preparation classes in the Parish.
Any child in First Class or older may enrol for First Communion, and children in Fifth Class may enrol for Confirmation. Late enrolment is still possible. Registration forms are available from one of our priests after Sunday Mass, and completed forms should be returned to the Parish immediately to secure a place.

08/09/2026

BISHOP TOM DEENIHAN OFFERS ADVICE TO CONFIRMATION CANDIDATES AND THEIR FAMILIES 🕊

Please see attached link to video for families with children considering receiving Confirmation next Spring. This video is from our Bishop Tom Deenihan, Bishop of Meath. Parents are asked to look at this video and reflect on its contents so that they can work with the parish and the relevant school bodies in preparing their child for Confirmation.
At the end of the month of September, parents will be able to Request the Sacrament of Confirmation for their child in Ashbourne. Confirmation is on Saturday 27th February 2027. 🙏

Bishop Tom Deenihan addresses the candidates preparing for Confirma...

08/09/2026

CONGRATULATIONS TO FR. DEREK 🙏

Ashbourne’s third parish priest, Fr. Derek Darby
is 25 years a priest. He celebrated Mass on the
occasion of his silver jubilee in his native parish of Ratoath last Sunday.
Fr. Derek was a priest in Ashbourne-Donaghmore Parish for 12 years from 2007-2019, serving first as a curate for 6 years before succeeding Fr. Jim Lynch as parish priest.
We congratulate Fr. Derek and wish him many more happy years of ministry as a priest of our diocese.

08/09/2026

PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO ARMAGH

Thanks to all those who joined our annual
pilgrimage in August. It was a wonderful day. 🙏

25/08/2026

BULLSTOWN SOLAR FARM COMMUNITY BENEFIT FUND ☀️

The ESB is delighted to announce that the Bullstown Solar Farm Community Benefit Fund is open for applications. The Fund, administered by SECAD Partnership, will provide grants to local community groups, not-for-profit organisations, or social enterprises that operate or service communities within 2 km of Bullstown Solar Farm, or which are the primary provider of services or activities within this area, for projects that will create positive social and environmental impacts.

The Fund is part of the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme, a key policy initiative to deliver on the Government’s Climate Action Plan, and it is structured in line with the requirements of the Rulebook for Community Benefit Funds under RESS. This is Year 1 of the Fund; the ESB will make an annual contribution into the Community Benefit Fund for the duration of the RESS-2 Contract (15 years). The fund value will vary each year depending on the amount of green electricity produced at the Solar Farm in the preceding year, this year’s approximate fund value is envisioned to be €20,000.

As part of this strand of funding, a minimum of 40% of the overall Fund shall be paid to not-for-profit community enterprises whose primary focus or aim is the promotion of initiatives towards the delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in particular, Goals 4, 7, 11 and 13, including education, energy efficiency, sustainable energy and climate action initiatives. The Fund will close for applications at 5pm on Monday the 31st of August 2026. All applications must be submitted through the online application platform. Each application will be evaluated in accordance with the eligibility criteria outlined in the Fund Guidelines. Proposed projects must seek to create positive social and environmental impacts in the area close to the Solar farm. Applicants requiring help or support with their application can contact the appointed Fund administrators, SECAD Partnership, by emailing [email protected] with the subject line “Bullstown Solar Farm Community Benefit Fund”. The Fund will close for applications at 5pm on Monday the 31st of August 2026.

23/08/2026

PARISH AFTER SCHOOL SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM
The Parish After School Sacramental Program will begin in a few weeks time. All Catholic parents with children attending non Catholic Schools must be registered on this program if they wish their child to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation, Communion and Confirmation in the coming years.
Registration Forms are available from our priests after Sunday Mass. If you are not registered please come to Sunday Mass with your child and introduce them to us. Once the form is complete it should be returned to the Ashbourne Parish Office. Classes for 1st Communion and Confirmation are held over two years.

23/08/2026

NEW CARPARK GUIDELINES FOR ASHBOURNE CHURCH ⛪️🅿️

Please note, Ashbourne church carpark is for private use and for church related activities. This criteria is part of our Ashbourne Parish insurance
premium. Our car park spaces are for masses, funerals, weddings, baptisms and people calling in to the office, cemetery and the church to pray.
To stop the increasing problem of all day parking from Monday to Saturday the carpark in front of the Old National School, for a trial period, will be opened only when it is needed. It will be opened for funerals, weddings and Masses on a Sunday or holyday.
Parishioners entering for other reasons ie. daily Mass, the rosary, to pray in the church, visit the cemetery or Parish Office are asked to park in the main body of the carpark. The wheelchair spaces are designated for a specific purpose and people should not impede the entry or exit to these spaces.
We thank all our parishioners for their
understanding and co-operation with this difficult
issue. It will take time to get used to these new
practices but it is to safeguard our parish mission.

09/08/2026

FR. IGNATIUS IS BACK WITH US 🙏

When Fr.Ignatius was leaving us last October, we issued an invitation to him to return if his diary allowed. We are glad to have him with us for the next few weeks.
Fr.Ignatius is most welcome and we hope that he fi finds contentment once again ministering to us and among us. Bentornato!

08/08/2026

PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO DROGHEDA, FAUGHART + ARMAGH 🙏
Saturday 22nd August, Cost €25
6 Spaces Still Available, Book through the Parish Office

In Drogheda our parish pillgramage will visit and pray at the shrine of St. Oliver in St. Peter's Church before heading to Armagh to learn about St. Patrick and the evolution of the Irish Church.
Our Ashbourne Parish priest, Fr.Michael will give a brief tour of St. Patricks Cathedral and Mass will be celebrated before the bus returns to Ashbourne. Enroute to the sites, and on the way home, there will be time for people to get food and beverage.
If you are interested in joining this year's pilgrimage a donation of 25€ secures a seat on the bus.
The Parish Pastoral Council have decided this year to visit Armagh as many people have never been to this city, and this pilgrimage helps us learn about St. Oliver Plunkett whose cousin is buried in Killegland Cemetery.

21/06/2026

FATHER'S DAY, 21st June 2026

We wish all of the fathers in our Ashbourne Parish a very happy Father's Day. Being a father is a wonderful vocation from God. We celebrate today the gift that all fathers are to their families, and we ask God to give them every blessing and grace, that they may always be a sure sign of love and support for their children.

Heavenly Father, you entrusted your Son Jesus, the child of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to the care of Saint Joseph, her spouse. Through the intercession of St. Joseph, foster-father of Jesus, bless all fathers and grandfathers as they care for their families. Give them strength and wisdom, tenderness and patience, give them ability to love in a way that reflects your love. Support them in the work they have to do and protect those who look to them.
Grant an eternal rest to our fathers whom you have called from this life to yourself, through Jesus Christ Lord. Amen. 🙏