A legacy of education and sport: Geraghty family celebrates deep-seated Ashbourne roots
Members of the Geraghty family gathered at Ashbourne House Hotel on Saturday night for a special reunion celebrating their deep roots in the town and the legacy of a remarkable local ancestor.
Relatives travelled from across Meath, Dublin, Cavan, Cork, Wicklow, the UK and the United States to attend the gathering, which brought together descendants of Patrick Geraghty, a prominent Ashbourne figure who lived in Ashbourne House from 1914 until his death in 1937, long before the building became the well-known hotel it is today.
Sandra Geraghty said the idea for the reunion arose following the death of a family member before Christmas, prompting reflection on how rarely extended families now meet outside of funerals.
“We felt it was important to come together for a happier reason,” she said. “It was about celebrating our family, our history, and our strong connection to Ashbourne.”
Patrick Geraghty (1868–1937) was a highly respected schoolmaster who served as principal of Ashbourne National School from 1896 until 1930. The school where he taught is now Ashbourne Parish Hall, located on Main Street directly across the road from Ashbourne House, meaning his daily commute was just a short walk.
At a time when education was far from universal, Patrick Geraghty was regarded as a trailblazer in the community. In addition to his work as a school principal, he took a keen interest in teachers’ rights and was chairman of the local branch of the Irish National Teachers Organisation in 1912.
He was also an avid sportsman and is credited locally with introducing GAA to Ashbourne, helping to foster early interest in organised sport in the town.
Patrick Geraghty married twice and had twelve children between his two marriages, reflecting the realities of family life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His first wife, Johanna Mulvaney, whom he married in the 1880s, died in 1899 at the age of 39, leaving four young children. He later married Mary Crinnion in 1900, and together they had eight children.
One of Patrick’s children, Patrick Geraghty junior (1894–1969), later married Mary Ann McNally in 1927. They had seven children — Christy, Mary, John, Joan, Matthew, Michael and Anne — whose descendants formed the core of Saturday night’s reunion.
In total, the gathering included two aunts, 23 cousins and 16 partners. Family members travelled long distances to attend, with some flying in from the UK and Boston, while others made the journey from Cork and Wicklow.
One cousin, Brian Geraghty, had spent months researching the family tree and presented a slideshow tracing the family back several generations and right up to the present day, complete with photographs that sparked plenty of laughter and nostalgia.
“It was a wonderful trip down memory lane,” Sandra said. “There was so much chat, reminiscing and remembering loved ones who are no longer with us. We even found ourselves wondering what our great-grandfather would have made of it all.”
Local historical records show that Ashbourne House was occupied by members of the Bourne family in the late 19th and early 20th centuries before becoming the Geraghty family home in 1914. The building was later converted into a hotel in the early 1960s.
Patrick Geraghty is buried in Ashbourne’s old cemetery, one of the town’s oldest burial grounds, where few new graves are now opened.
Sandra said the reunion reinforced the importance of preserving family history and local heritage for future generations.
“It was really special to bring everyone together under happier circumstances,” she said. “A huge thank you also has to go to the staff of Ashbourne House Hotel, the food and service were excellent, and they could not have done more to make it such a memorable night."