Ashbourne, Ireland

September 16, 2025

Ireland tours important reminders!

• Ticket sales will close on Friday, Sept. 19.
  Please ensure all purchases are completed before this date. No refunds will be issued after this deadline, as tour vendors will be paid in advance of the Feast.
• Bring your tickets!
  You must either print your tour tickets (with QR code) or have them ready on your phone. These will be scanned for entry onto the bus and/or into the tour locations.
• Late purchases (if available)
  If there is remaining availability, tickets may be sold during the Feast. These sales are not guaranteed.
• Trim Castle & Guinness Storehouse tours
  These tours require a separate bus ticket unless you are arranging your own transportation.
  • If you need a bus seat and did not purchase it in advance, you may be able to buy one at the Feast (cash/Euros only).
  • If you're providing your own transport, no bus ticket is needed.

September 4, 2025

Offerings

This year’s Feast site in Ireland is being managed and funded from the United States. Accordingly, offerings collected during the Feast will first be used to cover Feast-related expenses, with any remaining funds returned to the U.S.

Offerings may be submitted digitally either before or during the Feast. If you plan to give your offering on the holy days, please keep the following in mind:

• Euros are preferred for in-person offerings at the Feast. 
• U.S. dollars and checks are accepted but will need to be transported back to the U.S.

August 29, 2025

Children's Choir

Hello again! We’re wondering how many eager children we have who would like to participate in the Children’s Choir in Ashbourne this year! If you have a child aged 5-12 who would like to sing this year’s really fun song, please email Angie Duncan at [email protected]. Hopefully, we’ll have enough kids to sing their song in such a special, green place!

August 28, 2025

Special music

Greetings, Ashbourne Feast registrants!

If you would like to participate in special music during the Feast this year, please email the special music coordinator, Angie Duncan, at [email protected]. We need to know how you’d like to serve in this regard. As time is getting quite close, we need to know ASAP how much interest there is in choir participation so we can plan accordingly. Thank you so much for your thoughtful consideration!

August 26, 2025

Hello everyone,

About 6 weeks left until the 2025 Feast of Tabernacles. By now you have likely made most of your travel and packing plans for Ireland. Please pray for all the Feast planning, including messages and music, and for favourable weather and safe travels for all. 

Following is a round-up of information which will hopefully be useful. Here is a list of what you'll find below

• US vs UK Electronics 
• Pillo hotel amenities and check in
• Laundry
• Closing date for tours
• Tours still available
• Currency exchange/cash

ELECTRONICS/plugs in Ireland and UK

If you need to bring any electronics, remember the voltage in Ireland is 220–240 volts, while the US is usually 110 volts. This means that you might need a converter or adapter to use US devices in Ireland, unless they are dual voltage (showing 110-230V). The plugs are different, and you'd need a plug adapter. More info here: https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/us/ireland/

PILLO HOTEL

MEAL TIMES

Breakfast:  Monday-Friday: 7.00am - 10.00am
Saturday & Sunday: 7.00am - 11.00am
Dinner: 5.00pm - 9.00pm

HOTEL ROOM FACILITIES

All bedrooms contain:
High definition flat screen TV
Cable television
Tea and coffee facilities

A small fridge

Hair dryer
Iron and ironing board
Wi-Fi
In room safe
Bathroom ensuite

CHECK IN/OUT

Check in time is available from 4pm.
Check out time is at 12pm.

SWIMMING POOL

The hotel has a pool on site, which needs to be booked prior to use, and is open to the public - please note. Supervision of all aged children strongly advised. Book via this website https://www.clannlifefitnessashbourne.com/

Regarding the Pillo hotel check in time of 4pm: The hotel is more than happy to give you early check in when possible - I.e.: when the room has been made ready following the previous guests. The hotel is popular and usually very full. So once previous guests have checked out, the rooms need to be cleaned and restocked. This takes time for the cleaners to do. It’s not unwillingness on the part of the hotel to make an earlier check in, but just what is physically possible.

There will be a place to leave your luggage if your room is not ready when you arrive. The hotel is providing a few refreshments, and a place to sit and wait, in the 'pre banquet' room, near the hall and where you enter the hotel. Or the hotel has a nice restaurant/bar area for drinks and food.

Ashbourne town is a short (20 min) walk down a flat, newly paved sidewalk. It has restaurants, shops and pubs.  Even closer than Ashbourne town is the Ashbourne Business Park, which has a cinema, places to get food, and a variety of shops such as discount stores, a large drugstore, homeware stores, and others.

LAUNDRY 

The most convenient for cleaning clothes is Ashbourne Dry Cleaners in Ashbourne town. They are both a laundromat and dry cleaners, but you can't do the laundry yourself.  You drop off your clothes and then pick them up the next day (depending on how busy they are). They will clean, dry and fold. You can request ironing services too. They wash by weight, and I found it cost effective.

Ashbourne Dry Cleaners

Unit 8, Ashbourne court, Ashbourne, Co.Meath, Ashbourne, Meath
Open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

TOURS

QR CODES FOR TOURS

Please screenshot or print the QR codes you received when you booked on to tours/events. The QR code will be scanned to make sure we have everyone before leaving/commencing and upon return so that no one is left behind.

CLOSING DATE FOR BOOKING TOURS
In order for us to secure the tickets and pay for the tours and buses, the cut off date for booking tours will be Friday 19 September. 

IRISH DINNER DANCE Sun Oct 12 evening
Dress for Dance: Smart casual or as dressed up as you'd like, but the atmosphere is fun, not formal. 
Please remember to -

• Book for the dance on https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cogwafotireland
• Book the dinner directly with the hotel, by emailing [email protected] or phoning +353 (0) 1 835 0800

LUNCH BETWEEN HOLY DAYS

Please remember to directly with the hotel, by emailing [email protected] or phoning +353 (0) 1 835 0800

JAMESON TOUR - evening of Tues Oct 7

At the moment, there are only 34 tickets still available. If you wish to join, please book soon - https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cogwafotireland

DUBLIN SELF-TOUR Wed Oct 8 (same day as Trim Castle)

At the moment, there are only 33 bus tickets still available for travel into Dublin and back. If you wish to join, please book soon - https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cogwafotireland

TRIM CASTLE Wed Oct 8 (same day as Dublin self-tour)

Only 25 tickets left for the tour. If you wish to join, please book soon - https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cogwafotireland

(Remember to book the bus separately if you need transport there and back)

GUINNESS TOUR Thurs Oct 9 

There are about 50 tickets left for this tour. If you wish to join, please book soon - https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cogwafotireland

(Remember to book the bus separately if you need transport there and back)

LEISUREDOME FAMILY ACTIVITY Fri Oct 10

Tickets are still available for unlimited play - toddler play, bowling, laser tag, escape rooms and many arcade games  https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cogwafotireland

CURRENCY, CASH AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE

It's a smart idea to have some cash (Euros) on hand before you travel. Your local bank typically offers the best exchange rates. Once you're on your way, you'll likely encounter higher rates and additional fees.

Here's a great article on the topic of currency exchange we’d encourage anyone to read who has questions about how and where to handle converting money into Euros: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/cash-tips

From personal experience, we get the best exchange rates using a travel credit card, which has no foreign transaction fees (many credit cards charge about 3% on all purchases). When cash is needed, we use our debit card at an ATM located at an actual bank.

We'd recommend looking up the exchange rates for your own bank and credit cards in advance as this varies from bank to bank. (Exchange rates are different from fees. Many banks will charge a low fee, but add several points to the exchange rate.)

Please note that the Business Office will not be able to process any currency conversions during the Feast. Likewise, the Pillo hotel does not do currency conversions. If currency exchange is needed, it must be arranged through local financial institutions in Ireland. 

July 17, 2025

Minimum requirement for activities

Hello,

The Feast of Tabernacles is now less than 3 months away. Thank you to all those who responded to the activities survey. Based on those responses, we are calculating the event and transport costs.

Two of the events require a minimum number of tickets to be sold to make it viable. In that regard, we are making tickets for Jameson Distillery Bow St. Tour and the Celtic Nights Show and Dance available from Friday, July 18-Wednesday, Aug. 6. https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cogwafotireland/

Jameson Distillery Bow St. Tour
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 7-10 p.m.
Location: The distillery in Dublin
There is a minimum requirement of 75 tickets to be sold for this event to proceed.

Tickets will be available to purchase from July 18 to Aug. 6. Initially 100 tickets will be released, due to bus capacities, after which a waiting list will be available. If we can sufficiently fill another bus through the waiting list, more tickets can be released. This is a private event where we have exclusive use of the distillery. Tickets include transport, a four-course meal, a welcome drink and exciting entertainment.

Celtic Nights Show and Dance
Sunday, Oct. 12, 6-10 p.m.
Location: The Pillo Hotel
There is a minimum requirement of 140 tickets to be sold for this event to proceed.

Tickets will be available to purchase from July 18 to August 6. There is no maximum capacity, and this is sure to be a very enjoyable evening with both entertainment and dancing, with a live band. Please proceed now to purchase tickets using the following website: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cogwafotireland/ The tickets are listed in Euros.

Tickets for the remaining events and tours will be available in approximately two weeks. If you have any questions, please contact Claire Gordon at [email protected].

Michael Hanisko
Festival Coordinator

June 10, 2025

Ireland Facebook page

If you haven't already, be sure to request to join the 2025 Ireland Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/COGWAFOT2015AsbourneIreland.

There is a lot of useful information available. This is also a good place for new attendees to ask questions of last year’s attendees.

June 9, 2025

Airport form and activity survey

Airport Transfer Sign-Up Form

We are offering a coach (bus) transfer service to and from Dublin (DUB) airport. The cost will be approximately $30/person each way and must be purchased for every person in your group who will be occupying a seat. The final price will depend on the amount of people who use these transfers.

There will be airport arrival transfers from Dublin (DUB) airport to the Pillo hotel on Sunday, Oct. 5, and Monday, Oct. 6, grouped according to flight arrival times. The departure date is Wednesday, Oct. 15, and transport will leave from the Pillo hotel, coaches grouped according to flight departure times.

If you would like an airport transfer between Dublin (DUB) airport and the Pillo hotel, please click here and complete the form, or copy and paste the following into your Internet browser: https://forms.gle/DeSQztpx3iWVNib48.

The Pillo hotel does not offer airport transfers, but there is a local bus service that departs Dublin airport every hour - the 109A Eireann Bus in the direction of Kells. There is a bus stop about a 3-minute walk from the hotel. The journey takes around 30 minutes and costs approx €5 per adult (cash only). When you exit arrivals at Dublin (DUB) airport, cross the road and go through the big white building, you will see the bus station there. The zone where you get the bus from changes daily, so check on the screen to advise you which zone to go to (usually Zone 13 stop 12).

Activity Interest Survey

Please respond by Monday, June 23.

We’re finalizing activities and excursions for the Feast in Ireland 2025, and we need your input! Your responses will help us estimate attendance for each activity, which directly affects the cost per person. This survey is not a sign-up sheet and doesn’t commit you to any event. However, thoughtful responses help to ensure accurate pricing for the group.

Please consider your responses carefully, as they help us calculate costs for everyone.

Please have ONE member of your household submit this survey for your family (so we can avoid duplicate entries). Please click here to access the survey, or copy and paste https://forms.gle/69FE7RiiK4n8bxHy5 into your Internet browser.

Tickets will go on sale in August, and you can join the waiting list on the ticket sales site and be notified when sales open. (https://buytickets.at/cogwafotireland/)

Thank you in advance for your time!

June 4, 2025

Activity sign-up and schedule

The activities booking website has been finalized. This website allows registrants to join the waiting list for each activity. You can only join the waiting list until tickets become available. Joining the waiting list will help us to know how many will be doing each activity, so we can more accurately calculate the cost for each.

The schedule and event website link are also available on Facebook, but here is the link to the schedule on the Feast website, as well as the activities booking website:

The schedule is here: https://feast.cogwa.org/uploads/Ireland_Schedule_2025.pdf

The website is here: https://buytickets.at/cogwafotireland/