Please visit the Kildare Town Heritage Centre New websiteKildare Town Heritage Trail
A Short History | Home 
1. KILDARE TOWN HERITAGE CENTRE (Market House)
Situated in the restored 18th century market house. The centre is an ideal point of departure from which to explore the ancient treasures of the town.
2. ST. BRIGID'S CATHEDRAL
The Cathedral is located on the original grounds of St. Brigid's wooden church. Between 1223 and 1230 the present Cathedral was built. It was semi-ruinous by the year 1500, derelict by 1649, partially rebuilt in 1686 and finally restored to its present form from 1875 - 1896. Its environs include a Round Tower and a high cross. Major Restoration works took place in 1996.
3. ROUND TOWER
The original tower possibly 6th century succumbed to assault or simply fell into ruin. At any rate its present rebuilding seem to date from the 12th century. The tower, built of sandstone and granite, is 108 feet high and the second highest in Ireland but the highest one that can be climbed.

4. ST. BRIGID'S FIRE TEMPLE On the north side of the Cathedral are the restored foundations of an ancient fire temple. A small fire is often lit in the fire temple for ritual on St. Brigid's feastday on the 1st February. This flame was symbolically relit in 1993 and for the present is kept in Solas Bhride House.

 5. KILDARE CASTLE
Behind the Silken Thomas premises is the site and one gatehouse of the 12th century Fitzgerald Castle. The Castle was once one of the most important Castles of the Normans in Leinster. In the 1790's Lord Edward Fitzgerald lived at Leinster Lodge in the Castle bawn. The Fitzgerald's took advantage of Kildare's location as a frontier town between the English Pale and the Gaelic Irish Territory to increase their power and influence.

6. THE WHITE ABBEY
Founded in 1292 by William De Vesci Lord of Kildare. The Carmelites of the White Abbey celebrated 700 years in 1992

 7. THE GREY ABBEY
The abbey lies south of the town and its ruins are sadly depleted. The Grey Abbey was erected by Lord William De Vesci for the Franciscan Friars in 1260. Eight Earls of Kildare are buried there.

 8. ST. BRIGID'S WELL
It is located close to the Black Abbey near the site of the millrace, which was used by St. Brigid. This well is a site for religious devotion particularly on St. Brigid's annual feast day of February 1st.

 9. THE JAPANESE GARDENS/THE IRISH NATIONAL STUD

Colonel Hall Walker founded the National Stud in Tully in 1900. In 1944 The National Stud was handed over to the Irish Government and became the Irish National Stud in 1945. The construction of the Japanese Gardens took place from 1906 until 1910 by the celebrated gardener Tassa Eida. The gardens symbolise the life of man.

 10. THE BLACK ABBEY
The abbey ruins are in the grounds of the Irish National Stud. The Knights Hospitaller founded the Black Abbey in 1212 at Tully. The De Vesci Family established the abbey and bred horses in Tully before they lost their Kildare lands to the Fitzgerald in the 13th century.

  11. THE CURRAGH PLAINS
The main Dublin - Kildare road cuts through the flat green expanse of the Curragh. It is the largest tract of semi natural grassland in Europe consisting of 5000 acres of rolling plains. It is largest unfertilised Greenland in Ireland. The limestone rich grass strengthens the horses in the world. Vintage Crop trained by Dermot Weld on the Curragh was the first horse from the Northern Hemisphere to win the Melbourne Cup. The Curragh is now the site of the internationally renowned racecourse and also houses the largest army base in the country.

 
For more information contact: Mary Stones Tel: 00353 45 530672
E-Mail: kildaretownheritagecen@ireland.com