History:
Bachelors Lodge was built circa 1725 and five generations of the Lowry family, dating back to
1880, have been operating some form of equestrian industry down through the centuries.
No one seems quite sure about how the place acquired its distinctive name. On a map of 1805,
it was already called Bachelors Lodge along with the townland title Scallionstown.
Two hundred years ago, the estate appears to have been jointly owned by absentee land
lord the Earl of Essex and Lord Henry Fitzgerald, son of the first Duke of Leinster and
brother of Lord Edward. The main house dates back even further, to the second decade of
the 18th century and was probably built by a previous Earl of Essex as a hunting lodge.
It was Joseph Lowry, the current owners great great grandfather who first installed himself
in this imposing early 18th century Georgian estate. He started by leasing the property and
then subsequently bought it outright.
Joseph Lowry was one of the founder members of Navan Racecourse on the Proudstown road.
Indeed, the opening race of the first ever meeting was won by Bachelors Mark, owned by Mr.
Albert Lowry. Other famous racehorses associated with the stables at Bachelors Lodge include
Bachelors Button – winner of the Liverpool Summer Cup, Ascot Gold Vase (1904 & 1905) and the
Ascot Gold Cup (1906) defeating Pretty Polly in a record time for that era.
The property has been mainly utilised as a working stud farm for many years, but since 1990,
it is home to the superb equestrian centre.
