Ashbourne: History, Pottery and Leisure

Ashbourne offers a range of reasons to visit: the story of the Battle of Ashbourne, handmade pottery at Diem Pottery, and options for sporting or active days. There is also a theme park among the attractions in the surrounding area. Whether you are particularly interested in history and crafts or would like to plan leisure activities, these different highlights can help you shape your trip around your interests.

Battle history and remembrance at Rath Cross

The Battle of Ashbourne was the only major engagement outside Dublin during the Easter Rising. This gives it a special place among the events. A monument at Rath Cross commemorates the 1916 battle. It was unveiled in 1959 and expanded for the centenary in 2016. The two dates mark different stages in the history of its commemoration: the monument was unveiled in 1959, and its expansion followed in 2016.

For visitors with an interest in history, the battle offers a tangible connection to the history of the Easter Rising, while the monument makes its commemoration visible in the townscape. Anyone exploring Ashbourne’s history can keep both aspects in mind: the engagement itself and the later form of its commemoration at Rath Cross.

Craftsmanship at Diem Pottery

Diem Pottery produces traditional and contemporary ceramic pieces by hand. A visit can therefore involve more than looking at finished pieces: visitors can watch Thomas making pottery and learn about the process. The production area offers insight into how the pieces are made, making the craft of pottery itself a feature of the visit.

There is also a separate teaching area. There, visitors decorate their own ceramic piece, which is then fired in the kiln. Diem Pottery thus offers two different ways to engage with the material: you can watch traditional or contemporary pieces being made, or try decorating a piece of your own. For a trip that leaves room for culture and crafts as well as outings, this is a distinctive idea for a visit.

Leisure and sport around Ashbourne

Emerald Park is located in Kilbrew near Ashbourne in County Meath. One notable figure associated with the park is the height of the drop on the roller coaster The Cú Chulainn Coaster: it has a 32-metre drop at its highest point. This specific ride statistic gives roller-coaster enthusiasts a vivid impression of the attraction, without implying any further details about the ride’s layout or duration.

Broadmeadow Equestrian Centre is near Ashbourne and has three riding arenas: one indoor arena and two floodlit outdoor arenas. The centre offers riding activities for riders of all experience levels. This makes riding a distinct option to consider when planning your trip; the details about the number and type of arenas also describe the training facilities available there.

Ashbourne is also home to Ashbourne Golf Club, an 18-hole championship parkland course. It was designed by Declan Branigan Design and Ryder Cup vice-captain Des Smyth, and opened in 1994. Lakes and mature trees shape its layout, and a river runs through the course. This sets the golf offering apart from Ashbourne’s other leisure and craft attractions as described here: the focus is on the parkland course and its landscape features.

Choose the right focus for your trip

If you are looking for holiday accommodation in Ashbourne, your interests can be a useful starting point: history and pottery offer a different focus from golf, horse riding or the theme park. The location details help you situate the attractions: Emerald Park is in Kilbrew near Ashbourne, Broadmeadow Equestrian Centre is near Ashbourne, and the golf club and Diem Pottery are associated with Ashbourne. You can then consider which of these themes you would like to make a particular focus of your trip.

If you would also like to discover other places, you can find Mullaghmore, Kells, Kiltale, Longwood, Ratoath, Dunsany, Donore and Enfield here.

For the broader travel overview: County Meath.