| County Kildare |
| Kildare County |
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Kildare County - kildare
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Kildare County - wheels
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Accommodation_Kildare
A
prosperous county, commuters are more and more settling in Kildare.
Farmland, bogs and grasslands are the main geographical features of the
county.
MAYNOOTH is a pleasant university town with a few items worth a visit.
St Patrick’s College & Seminary (call 628 5222 for information),
founded by the English, turns out Catholic priests since 1795. In 1910
the college joined the National University and nowadays counts over
5,000 students. The seminary however |
groes increasingly less popular as
the number of seminarians is falling over the years. Not far from the
College are the ruins of Maynooth Castle which date back to the 13th
century. The fashionable Larchill Arcadian Gardens (call 628 7354 for
information) are the only of their kind in Europe. You will enjoy
strolling through this replica of a mid-18th-century Arcadian garden.
The only attraction really in CELBRIDGE is the splendid Palladian
Castletown House (call 628 8252 for information). This historic house
was built in the mid-18th century. The avant-garde design of the
Palladian façade is the work of Alessandro Galilei. The interior of
this huge house has been completely restored. STRAFFAN is a famous name
among golf lovers as it will host the Ryder Cup in September 2006. The
Kildare Hotel & Country Club (call 601 7200 or visit www.kclub.ie)
is a golfer’s paradise and one of the finest golf courses in Ireland.
Since 1995, it hosts every year the European Open.
The BOG OF ALLEN is a raised bog which extends through counties
Kildare, Laois and Offaly.
Following the banks of the Grand Canal going west from Straffan, the
quiet tiny Robertstown is worth a visit as it has remained in its
original condition. Not far is the 206m Hill of Allen. The Lullymore
Heritage & Discovery Park (call 870 238 for information) is great
for children .
NEWBRIDGE, famous for its silverware which you can admire at the
Newbridge Cutlery Visitor Centre (call 431 301 for information or visit
www.newbridgecutlery.com) is also at the doors of the CURRAGH, an
expand of unfenced fertile land, and a main focus of the Irish horse
industry. The oldest and most prestigious course in the country is
located in the Curragh (call 441 205 for information or visit
www.curragh.ie) . KILDARE TOWN is a highly popular town amongst Dublin
commuters. St Brigid’s Cathedral (call 521 229 for information) is a
13th century building with a 10th century round tower. The Irish
National Stud (call 521 251 for information or visit
www.irish-national-stud.ie) is a great visit on which you will see
high-quality stallions as well as the intensive care unit for newborn
foals. Bear in mind that foals are born in spring or early summer, so
you could witness that wonderful event. Included is an Irish Horse
Museum. End your visit in the wonderful Japanese Gardens (call 522 963
for information), one of the finest in Europe.
A number of interesting places are worth a detour on the NAAS to CARLOW
road. BALLITORE had Quaker residents during the 18th and 19th
centuries. In MOONE stands a magnificent high cross which dates back to
the 8th or 9th century. KILKEA CASTLE (call 059-914 5156 for
information or visit www.kilkeacastle.ie) is supposedly haunted by a
ghost…
The Anglo-Norman town of ATHY is conveniently located at the junction
of the River Barrow and the Grand Canal. Dating back to the 12th
century, Athy was once a strategic defence post. |
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