Bus
Bus Eireann provide services to County Kildare from Dublin, Waterford, Carlow, Tipperary and other counties. For further information on bus services telephone:
01 8366111 ( Dublin).

Rail
The Dublin / Kildare line serves Co. Kildare with stations at Newbridge, Kildare and Athy. For further information on rail services, telephone:
01 8266222 ( Dublin), 045 521224 (Kildare) or 0507 31966 (Athy).

Sea
Ireland is linked to Britain and Europe by a number of car-ferry routes. The main ports of entry are Dublin, Rosslare and Cork - all of which are between a 1.5 and 4 hour drive from Kildare.

Airports

Car Rental Agencies

Fitzpatrick's Garages	Kildare Town	045 522533
Hennessey's Self Drive	Naas	045 879251
Newbridge Car and Van Rental	Newbridge	045 431130

Taxi Companies

Aircraft Hire

Hotels

Flat Rental Agencies

Office Rental Agencies

 RURAL

Countryside
Kildare is a flat county which only rises in the foothills of the Wicklow mountains. There are hills north of Kildare town and at Carbury, west of Kilcock.


Curragh Plain
This area consists of a tract of land, 10km by 3km, flattened in the Ice Age. It is a well-renowned horse breeding area with many top stud farms. The Curragh Camp, Irish Army Base, is situated near the plain, with troops going through military training on the plain. Much of the filming for Braveheart took place in this area.


Forests
There are forest walks at Blackwood (Athy), Donadea and Glending (Naas).


Bog of Allen
This bog covers 20,000 acres of north Kildare. Much of the bog has been cut away.


Lullymore Heritage Park
Lullymore Heritage Park & Peatland World Bog Museum , Lullymore is located at the heart of the Bog of Allen. Exhibitions display the ecology of the bog and archaeological finds.


Pollardstown Fen
Pollardstown Fen is a wildlife reserve famous for its flora and bird life, located near the Curragh racecourse.


King’s Bog
Located outside Kildare town, this tract of bog offers a wild landscape of flora and fauna on an uncut bog.

 COASTAL

River Liffey
The Liffey flows through the county towards Dublin and the Barrow enters Kildare at Monasterevin.

River Boyne
The Boyne rises at Carbury but soon leaves the county.

Canals
The Grand and Royal canals also flow through Kildare.

 HISTORICAL

St. Brigids Cathredral
The ruins of this 13th century cathredral are located in Kildare Town centre, St. Brigid being the female patron saint of Ireland. Adjacent to the cathrdral lies a 10th century Round Tower.


Moore Abbey
This Abbey, former home of Ireland’s greatest tenor, John McCormack, is located in Monasterevin.


Carton House
This 18th century manor is located just outside Maynooth. It was a former residence of the Earls of Kildare.


Bodenstown
In the graveyard of this ruined church, lies the remains of Theobald Wolfe Tone, United Irishman who died in the 1798 rebellion.


Donnelly’s Hollow
At the eastern end of the Curragh, this is the site of a celebrated boxing match in 1815, when the English champion was defeated by Dan Donnelly. Donnelly’s footprints emerging from the hollow have been preserved.


Castletown House
Located near Celbridge, this house is the largest and most significant Palladian style country house in Ireland. It was built in 1722 for William Conolly, speaker of the Irish Parliament. The spectacular interiors date from the second part of the 18th century. Its features include the Red Drawing Room, Print Room, Long Gallery and Boudoir Wall Paintings. Conolly’s Folly within the grounds of the House is the focus of views from the Long Gallery.


Moone High Cross
There are ancient monuments scattered through Kildare, most notably the 9th century High Cross at Moone. The remains of a Celtic monastery and Round Tower can be found at Old Kilcullen.


Kilkea Castle
This castle originally built in 1180 was a Fitzgerald stronghold. It has been refurbished as a luxury hotel.


Leixlip Castle
Ten miles from the capital this Norman Castle offers impressive interiors, with ornate halls, library, dining room and Gothic windows.

 INTERIORS

Leixlip Castle
Ten miles from the capital this Norman Castle offers impressive interiors, with ornate halls, library, dining room and Gothic windows.


Castletown House
Located near Celbridge, this house is the largest and most significant Palladian style country house in Ireland. It was built in 1722 for William Conolly, speaker of the Irish Parliament. The spectacular interiors date from the second part of the 18th century. Its features include the Red Drawing Room, Print Room, Long Gallery and Boudoir Wall Paintings. Conolly’s Folly within the grounds of the House is the focus of views from the Long Gallery.

 URBAN

Naas Town
The county’s main town, Naas is situated 30 kilometres west of Dublin on the N 7. Today the town is almost a suburb of the capital. The council offices, courthouse, Garda headquarters and county hospital are here. The town hall is on the site of a Medieval castle and the Courthouse with its Victorian courtroom has attracted several films. Naas has its own racecourse with Punchestown nearby.


Newbridge
This town is located on the Liffey, further along the N7 near the Curragh Racecourse where the Irish Derby is held each June. The town is the location of the headquarters of Bord na Mona, the national peat board.


Kildare Town
This town in the edges of the Curragh Plain is full of character. The Irish National Stud and the Japanese Gardens are located here. The focus of the town is St. Brigid’s Cathedral.


Maynooth
A University town, located on the N4, the main road to the west of Ireland. Maynooth was once a manorial village serving Carton House. St. Patricks College represents the main focus of the town. It is a seminary for training priests as well as a university. The ruined castle dates from the 13th century.


Athy
An ancient crossing place on the River Barrow, Athy is an important market town. It stands on the N78 road between Kilkenny and Naas. Some remains of the late 13th century Woodstock Castle, north of the town, may be viewed and the nearby ruins of 16th century White Castle are a national monument. The courthouse, railway station and hospital are Gothic Revival style.


Ballitore
This town is of note as a Quaker settlement. There is a museum in the library of the Meeting House. The ruins of Castle Inch lie three miles east.


Robertstown
Located on the Grand Canal, Robertstown is a 19th Century canalside village, with cottages lining the waterfront. Cruises are available from the quay.


Clane
This growing town is the site of the Jesuit College, Clongowes Wood, where James Joyce received his schooling.

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