About us

Ashbourne Pickleball Club was set up on the 6th of August 2024.

The spark behind Ashbourne Pickleball Club was when Enda McDonnell introduced David Molloy to give the game a go in December 2023 when Enda had returned to Mayo for the Christmas from Florida. Enda left a complete pickleball set behind and David took it in the car to Ashbourne.

In January David dropped into East Meath Pickleball club to learn more about the game and he was soon hooked. Tom Brady, chairman of East Meath Pickleball and his members welcomed David in and very soon he had a grasp of the game.

In March, David invited Donal Roche, Stephane Girard, Peter Reid and Martin McCaul to try the game out in Ashbourne Community Centre. Once the guys got to grips with the game there was no turning back and David realised there was an opportunity to set a pickleball club up in Ashbourne.

The biggest challenge was securing a regular spot to play and thankfully Tom Mulvaney of Ashbourne Community Centre seen the potential and opened the hall up for regular session on Sundays.On the 6th of August the club was formally registered with Pickleball Ireland and became the 64th club in the country. David Molloy took on the positions of Chairman & PRO, Donal Roche was appointed Secretary and Stephane Girard became our Treasurer.

The club logo was designed by Ronan Lynch from Lynch Design which then became the foundation for our social media pages and club appeal which was purchase through Premier Custom Designs in Dunshaughlin.Soon after, we secured playing time in Ashbourne Community School and word spread about the new club.

Before long we had 46 members, secured grants from local councillors and Meath Sports Partnership as well as from Cornmarket Group Financial Services and Applegreen. This allowed the club to purchase our own equipment and deliver the first training session with the Colin Sheridan Academy for 16 members.

In November 2024, 12 members took part in their first tournament in Dublin 15 and took 8 medals over the two days which was a fantastic achievement for such a young club. The winners were Adele Ross, Siobhan O’Donovan (2), Brenda Hussey, Stephen McCormack, Stephane Girard, Tara Kenny and Donal Roche.

While the club is only open to over 18’s at present, the committee plan to expand membership to juniors once we are firmly established, and become a club where Pickleball is for all.