KILDARE ( Cill Dara )

Kildare comes from the Irish word Cill Dara - Church of the Oak Tree, referring to St. Brigid's monastary beneath an oak tree. A unique plain called the Curragh stretches across County Kildare which is famous for horse-racing, breeding and it has been the main training base for the Irish Army. Naas which comes from the Irish Nás na Riogh, the assembly of Kings was the seat of the Kings of Leinster. There is a butterfly farm in Straffan, County Kildare.

The verdant inland county of Kildare offers a wealth of attractions from horse-riding to architecture. The land is rich and is interspersed with stretches of ancient bogland.

Kildare is regarded as the home of the Irish horse industry. Its lush countryside is ideal for breeding hourses and it is the location of some of the world's top stud farms.

The county has also long been the home of military encampments. The Anglo-Normans positioned their armies here in the 12th century and Kildare town served as a garrison town for the British during the First World War. Today, the Irish army has a training base at the Curragh.

Castletown House in Celbridge is considered to be one of the finest Georgian mansions in Ireland. Built for William Connolly, Speaker of the Irish Parliament, it was completed in 1732. The magnificent interiors date from the second half of the 18th century.

There is a fascinating museum in the picturesque village of Straffan devoted to locomotive engines and rare industrial stationary engines.

Rich in heritage and history, Kildare Town dates from the5th Century, when it was the site of the original ‘Church of the Oak’ and monastery founded by St. Brigid. This became one of the three most important Christian foundations in Celtic Ireland.

It was said that Brigid’s mother was a Christian and that Brigid was reared in her father’s family, that is with the children of his lawful wife. From her mother, Brigid learned dairying and the care of the cattle, and these were her occupations after she made a vow to live a life of holy chastity. Both St. Mel of Ardagh and Bishop Mac Caille have been credited with the consecration of Brigid and some companions

Not too far away, on Dun Ailinne, lived the King of Leinster who had donated the site to the holy woman. A story told was that the King offered Brigid as much land as her cloak would cover. When she spread her garment it miraculously stretched out to embrace the entire Curragh. True to his promise, the King gave her the fertile plain, and there the new community grazed their sheep and cows.

St. Brigid's Well & Fr. Moore's Well

Both of these popular wells hold reputations as curing wells. St. Brigid’s well is located close to the Black Abbey. Father Moore’s well is on the Milltown road. It is reputed to have a cure for headaches. Both wells are sites of religious devotion and there is an annual torchlight procession to St. Brigid’s Well on 1st February.

St. Brigid's Cathedral and Round Tower The cathedral itself was built in the 13th century and is one of the finest Protestant cathedrals in the country. The 10th century round tower in the grounds of the cathedral is the second highest in the country standing at 31.5m.


St. Brigid’s Cathedral, most recently rebuilt in the 19th century, stands on the original site of the nunnery founded by St. Brigid in the 5th century. Today it houses numerous religious artefacts including a 16th century vault, religious seals and a medieval water font, later used for christening. The architecture reflects the defensive function of the Cathedral, with distinctive Irish merlons (parapets) and walkways a noticeable feature of the roof.

Situated in the cathedral grounds is an oak sapling. In pre-Christian times a sacred oak around which Druids gathered to pray grew in the grounds behind the present Cathedral.

Also in the Cathedral grounds and at 108 feet in height, Kildare’s Round Tower is open to the public during the season or on request. The tower is built atop Kildare Hill, the highest point in town. Its parapet affords panoramic views for miles-including the Curragh races! The raised doorway, some 4 meters off the ground, is surrounded by ornate Hiberno-Romanesque stonework. The tower base is constructed of Wicklow granite, transported from over 40 miles distant, and the higher portion is constructed from local limestone. The conical roof was originally destroyed and was replaced by a parapet to ‘facilitate viewing and complement the Cathedral’s architecture.’ Both Cathedral and tower are magnificently floodlit, and really must be seen at night.

The grounds also house the foundations of an ancient Fire Temple which was surrounded by a ring of twigs, inside which no man was allowed to enter. The flame was extinguished in the 16th century but plans are underway to rekindle it. Nearby is a restored 14th century underground vault locally known as ‘St. Brigid’s Kitchen’ which is said to be the starting point of a reputed secret escape tunnel, lost for centuries. Also in the grounds is a fine Celtic stone cross.

The Irish National Stud is 1/2 mile outside the town centre. On the hour every hour, tours take place into such places as the intensive care unit for foals as well as all the other stables. The Irish Horse Museum is also worth a visit. It shows the role horses play in Irish life as well as showing the feats of the much loved horse Arkle, said to be the greatest horse that Ireland has ever produced. This museum also houses the great Arkle's skeleton.

Also within the grounds of the National Stud are the famous Japanese Gardens. These took 4 years to complete. The gardens symbolise the passage through the Life of Man and leaflets are available to explain the symbolism within the garden. The stud and gardens are open from February to November.

Kildare is on the main road between Cork and Dublin, the train line between Cork and Dublin and a comprehensive bus service is also available.

HOSPITALS

Clane General Hospital
Prosperous Road, Clane, Co. Kildare
Tel: 045 868 004

Naas General Hospital
Naas, Co. Kildare
Tel: 045 897 221

St. Vincent's Hospital
Athy, Co. Kildare
Tel: 0507 31614

ESTATE AGENTS

Brophy Farrell & Co
Main Street
Newbridge
Co. Kildare
Phone : (045) 431327
Fax : (045) 431503
E-Mail : brfauct@eircom.net

Coonan E A, & Son Ltd
Property House
Main Street
Celbridge
Co Kildare
Phone : 6288400
Fax : 6288505
E-Mail : celbridge@coonan.com

Coonan, E A & Son Ltd
Property House
Main Street
Maynooth
Co Kildare
Phone : 6286128
Fax : 6286726
E-Mail : info@coonan.com

Fingleton & Company
Model Court
Athy
Co. Kildare
Phone : (059) 8638606
Fax : (059) 8632747
Website : http://www.fingletonandco.com

O`Doherty, Bryan
Duke Street
Athy
Co. Kildare
Phone : (059) 8631965
Fax : (059) 8631191
E-Mail : bryanodoherty@indigo.ie

THINGS TO DO