Site Description
An international Feast of Tabernacles site is planned for 2024 in Ashbourne, Ireland, just 14 miles (22 kilometres) outside of Dublin.
Meetings will be held in the Rath Ballroom at the four-star Pillo Hotel, Ashbourne. The hotel has put together an attractive accommodation package, though other less expensive options are available in Ashbourne just over 1.6 miles away.
We recommend staying at the Pillo where services will be held and plenty of Feast fellowship will take place!
After successfully applying through the COGWA portal and receiving your acceptance email (not just the email confirming that your application has been received), you will be able to book directly with the hotel (or with other accommodation). There is no need to pay a deposit at the Pillo, but the reservations team, after verifying your acceptance, will take credit or debit card details to secure the booking.
Local attractions
Many of Ireland’s ancient monuments are in Co. Meath, where the Feast site is situated. These include:
- The Hill of Tara (where Irish rulers gathered; linked to legends of Jeremiah).
- Newgrange (supposedly 1,000 years older than Stonehenge).
- The Norman castle at Trim.
- Ruins of the 800-year old Bective Abbey.
- The River Boyne, location of a famous battle in Irish history in 1690.
- In Dublin you will find many attractions including the Guinness Storehouse, the Jameson Irish Whiskey tour, and Irish National Museum.
Hotel Rates - Pillo Hotel
(Exchange rate approximately $1=€0.91. Visit xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=USD&To=EUR for an up-to-date conversion.)
Adults – Bed & Breakfast:
€89 ($98) per person sharing per night
+€49 ($54) single room supplement
Family Room 2+1 @ €199 ($220) per night
Family Room 2+2 @ €219 ($242) per night
Family Room 2+3 @ €249 ($275) per night
Alternatively, the hotel offers dinner, bed & breakfast rates based on a three-course set menu:
Adults – Dinner, Bed & Breakfast:
€119 ($131) per person sharing per night
+€49 ($54) single room supplement
Family Room 2+1 @ €279 ($308) per night
Family Room 2+2 @ €299 ($330) per night
Family Room 2+3 @ €339 ($375) per night
At present, we have an allocation of 120 bedrooms, so these rates will only be bookable up to eight weeks prior to arrival. After this, the best available rates will apply. Payment on bedrooms can then be made on check in or on check out.
- After you receive your acceptance email in January, remember to book using the “COGWA24” group code either by email to reservations@pillohotelashbourne.com or direct phone in Irish office hours to reservations +353 1 8350800. The hotel’s online system will not give you the discount for our COGWA group, and may also take a non-refundable deposit.
- If you prefer to find a self-catering flat, rental home or a different hotel such as the Ashbourne House Hotel, you could rent a car or use the bus (15 minutes away) to have easy travel to the Pillo Hotel for services. Remember, attendance depends upon official acceptance in an email.
- We will provide official attendance badges for the site to give access to services. This will help provide security to our families and enable the hotel staff to keep track of us. When we hear of your acceptance, we will send you a link to check that we have your name and church area correct.
- Look out for reasonably priced air tickets to Dublin International Airport. You can get some good deals if you book early. We shall request flight details so the hotel can provide transfer for those not picking up a car at the airport.
- There is a rail-ferry service from London if you decide to visit London before the Feast.
- Breakfasts are included in the hotel price, and we are planning to arrange three or more (depending on the popularity) dinners and lunches as a group for those who would like. There are also two restaurants at the hotel. The prices of food may be found on the hotel’s website.
- Two or three tours to local historical sites and other points of interest are always enjoyable during the Feast. We will be asking if you plan to rent a car, take a taxi or go by coach. We will provide details of local sites for those who wish to be independent of any organized group.
- We are planning to set up a Facebook page to provide additional answers to questions you may ask and can share this with others.
All the best,
Peter Hawkins
Traditional Irish Blessing
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.