ST. BRIGID
|
She approached the King of Leinster seeking land for her abbey. In return for curing a deformity, he agreed to give as much land as her cloak would cover - which according to legend spread out to cover the entire Curragh. |
| MONASTIC CITY | Vikings attacked Monastic cities because of their wealth. The first of 15 attacks in Kildare occurred in 835 and the Vikings took away shrines of St. Brigid and St. Conleth. |
| MEDIEVAL KILDARE |
 The street pattern of the medieval town that surrounded the Castle
and Cathedral has been identified, but as Kildare was outside the pale
it did not develop to such an extent as did more secure centres such
as Naas. After the collapse of the pilgrimage and cult of St. Brigid
following the reformation and the devastating wars of the 17th century,
the status of the site declined. |
| WAR AND REBELLION | Kildare suffered on several occasions as rival chiefs fought over titles and lands of the monastery - the control of such a holy site with its attractions for pilgrim made it desirable place to be included in a tribal chief's area of influence. |
| A PROSPEROUS TOWN | Declined up to the mid 18th century because of no river and was not on a major route. However in 1731 the road from Naas to Maryborough (Portlaoise) was turnpiked - placing Kildare on the main route to Dublin and benefited from passing trade. In the 19th century there was a steady expansion of the town, which saw the coming of the railway and the military barracks on the Curragh. |
| A GARRISON TOWN | The 1st military barracks was opened in 1901. In 1922 the British
vacated the barracks. In March 1925 the newly created Artillery Corp
arrived in Kildare. In 1998 they departed Kildare. |
She
arrived with her nuns in the year 480AD. She decided on Druim Criaig
(oak
covered ridge) rising above the Curragh plains.
There under a great oak tree, she built her "abbey" and
hence the name of the present town of Kildare - Cill Dara, the cell
or church of the oak. E-Mail: kildaretownheritagecen@ireland.com