Brief History of Donaghmore/Ashbourne CLG

Founded in 1923 originally under the name of Donaghmore the club’s original roots hail from a townland about 2 miles south of Ashbourne village on the East side of the N2. The club was renamed Donaghmore Ashbourne in 1996 to reflect its growth and increase of playing members from the village of Ashbourne itself. The club is one of the fastest growing clubs in County Meath with in excess of 45 teams now competing at Football, Hurling, Ladies Football and Camogie.

The club has tasted success right from its formation with their first County Title coming a year after their formation when they capture the Junior title in 1924. Our roll of honour includes:

Senior Football Champions (1927, 1928, 1942),

Feis Cup Winner (1929, 1941, 1945)

Intermediate Champions (1938, 1950, 1959, 2007)

Junior Champions (1924, 1971)

Junior C Champions (2005)

Junior B Champions (2008)

Junior Hurling Champions (1974, 1994)

Junior 2 Hurling Champions (1989)

Ladies Intermediate Champions (2004)

In recent times the club has tasted success at various under age levels with three consecutive County Minor Titles in 2006, 2007 and 2008 indicating the work being done at under age level. 2008 also saw the Minor team being crowned Leinster Minor Club champions – the first Meath team to achieve this success. The club also recorded success at Under 16, claiming the County Championship title in 2006 with success at Under 17 level in 2005 and 2006 when they recorded County Title wins. 2008 also indicated that the conveyor belt of talent is quite strong at the younger age groups as the club captured the Under 14 Championship and Reserve Championship titles. The intermediate team, after capturing its first title in 42 years progressed to the Leinster Final losing out to neighbours Fingal Ravens. They were also crowned 2008 All Ireland 7 a side winners in the first tournament run by neighbours Ratoath. Our Camogie Section have enjoyed success in the Junior Championship, winning the title a total of 3 times, in 1979, 1997 and again in 2003. Our Ladies Minor Footballers also hold the honour of bringing back the first piece of silverware to the new club, winning the Minor Championship in 2007.

Naturally with Donaghmore Ashbourne’s predicted growth there was a need to provide facilities for all these teams. With some hindsight in 1998 the club started planning for a major development and expansion programme with a view to moving the club from it existing home in The Wotton into the heart of the village of Ashbourne. After a lot of hard work a new €6.5 million development opened its doors in December 2007. The development includes the provision of 4 new playing pitches, New Clubhouse, complete with 10 changing rooms, bar, function room and meeting rooms and a 40m x 25m indoor arena complete with artificial playing surface. Hopefully these new facilities together with the work being put in at underage level will result in Donaghmore Ashbourne sitting at the top table of GAA games in Meath in the near future.