County Kildare

With rich soil a bonus for some of Ireland’s best farmland, with a hugely successful bloodstock industry and with the population rising as Dublin’s commuter belt extends further into the county, Kildare is one of Ireland’s most desirable places in which to live or work.

It is undoubtedly Ireland’s equine centre, what with the National Stud in Kildare town, more studs than you can count and three leading racecourses within its boundaries. An area of lush, rolling countryside, Kildare can be traversed by canal, rail or an ever-improving road network and motorway extensions that provide easy access to such attractive towns such as Monasterevin and Kildare.

History and Heritage

The history and heritage of County Kildare can be traced from its earliest pre-Christian sites to magnificent Palladian mansions such as Carton House in Maynooth and Castletown House in Celbridge.

Castles, churches, abbeys and high crosses (such as the High Cross at Noone) abound in Kildare as reminders of times past while the Grand and Royal Canals and the Bog of Allen are further reminders of the county’s success on the commercial front before the horse world took over.

The Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton was born in Kilkea near Athy, a fact that is rightly celebrated in the county.

Sites to see

Peatland World at Lullymore, Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park, Quaker Museum at Ballitore, Heritage Centre in Athy, Castletown House, Celbridge Kildare Cathedral.

Sports and Leisure

Horses, horses and more horses – this is the equine centre of Ireland, after all, so horse breeding, racing and training is part of the very fabric of Kildare. Choose from The Curragh, Punchestown or Naas Race Courses!

Golf – when the world’s most prestigious golf event, the Ryder Cup, has been held at the K Club (2006), you know that Golf is taken seriously in Kildare and there are a lot of other top class courses in the county.

Motor Racing – Mondello Park outside Naas is the home of Irish motor racing

Canoeing – various championships and the International Liffey Descent begin from Leixlip

Walking and cycling tours are also popular, particularly along the canals.

Eat, Drink and Stay

High Moone Cross Inn (Castledermot), The Castle Inn (Athy), Ballymore Inn (Ballymore Eustace), La Primavera, Lemongrass (Maynooth), Les Olives and Mash Restaurant (Naas) are the pick of Kildare’s fine eating establishments.

There are also excellent restaurants in some of the leading hotels such as Kilkea Castle, Leixlip House, Moyglare Manor, Killashee House, Barberstown Castle and the K Club.

Atmospheric pubs include Fletchers of Naas and Silken Thomas in Kildare.

With so many major sporting events taking place in the county, accommodation is an important consideration in Kildare and there are plenty of very good B&Bs from which to choose.

Festivals

September: Robertstown Canal Festival, Robertstown

October: ‘Ernest Shackleton School’, Athy

Things you have to see or do...
Irish National Stud (& Museum) Japanese & St.Fiachra’s Gardens Kildare Town

Kildare Outlet Village – located in Kildare Town

Heritage Centre – located in Athy

Straffan Steam Museum – a fine collection of models of steam locomotives

Mondello International Motor Racing Circuit –

Straffan Butterfly Farm – a tropical greenhouse with spectacular butterflies

Lullymore Heritage Park – Lullymore

Useful links

Kildare Tourism www.visitkildare.ie

Motor racing www.mondellopark.com

Environment www.ipcc.ie

Equestrian www.hri.ie