Internationally celebrated as the “Thoroughbred County,” County Kildare seamlessly blends a rich, centuries-old legacy of equestrian excellence with magnificently sweeping open spaces. Beyond its world-renowned racecourses and the storied, emerald expanse of the Curragh plains, Kildare is a treasure trove of grand Palladian estates, opulent historic mansions, and elegantly manicured gardens waiting to be explored.
The county also offers a deeply tranquil retreat from the bustle of modern life. Along the quiet, stretching towpaths of the Grand Canal and the scenic River Barrow Blueway, visitors can leisurely stroll or cycle through idyllic, storybook scenery. It is a highly sophisticated yet warmly laid-back county that has masterfully preserved both its natural elegance and its compelling historic charm.
County Kildare’s heritage is majestically displayed in its spectacular architecture and world-famous equine traditions. At the heart of this legacy is the magnificent Castletown House, Ireland’s largest Palladian mansion, boasting exquisite 18th-century plasterwork and sprawling, idyllic parklands. The county’s profound connection to horses is celebrated at the renowned National Stud, where visitors can marvel at majestic thoroughbreds before wandering through the tranquil beauty of the adjoining Japanese Gardens. This rich history is further complemented by ancient landmarks such as the 13th-century Ballynafagh Church, offering quiet moments of reflection amid rolling green fields.
Beyond its grand estates, Kildare’s landscape provides a breathtaking backdrop for both relaxation and lively community celebrations. The unique ecosystem of the Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park invites visitors to step back in time while exploring reclaimed peat-bogs and captivating historical exhibits. Throughout the year, the county pulses with vibrant events, most notably the Taste of Kildare festival, which transforms the region into a bustling, world-class culinary destination. Whether cycling the scenic, traffic-free towpaths of the Grand Canal or enjoying the spectacular illumination of the Hill of Allen, County Kildare effortlessly marries serene natural beauty with a dynamic, welcoming culture.
Meath, meath
Stretching from the Wicklow Mountains to the Waterford coast, Ireland’s Ancient East packs millennia of Irish history into a compact, scenic region. Walk through UNESCO-listed passage tombs, wander medieval city streets, and explore world-class gardens – all just a short drive from Dublin.
Athy, kildare
Athy stands where the River Barrow meets the Grand Canal, guarded since 1417 by White's Castle at the old river crossing. The redeveloped Shackleton Museum on Emily Square holds an original expedition sledge and a scale model of the Endurance, and kayaks launch from the jetty beside it onto a calm beginner-friendly stretch of the Barrow.
Athy, kildare
The former Athy Heritage Centre reopened in June 2025 as the Shackleton Experience, a museum given over entirely to the Antarctic explorer born nearby at Kilkea. Inside the old Market House on Emily Square you'll find his actual dog-sledge harness, a sledge from his expeditions and a 15-foot model of the Endurance.
Ballitore, kildare
Explore Ballitore, Europe’s only permanent planned Quaker settlement. Wander through Georgian streets, visit the restored Meeting House and Mary Leadbeater’s former home, and step back into a legacy of education, industry, and religious tolerance.
Kildare, kildare
A rare seven-arch stone bridge carries the R411 over the River Liffey, marking the entrance to Ballymore Eustace. Beyond the town centre, visitors find 10th-century high crosses, evocative cotton-mill ruins, a thriving local art studio and direct access to the Blessington Lakes and Bog of Allen.
Ballynafagh, kildare
Originally dug in the 1780s to feed the Grand Canal, Ballynafagh Lake has been reclaimed by nature into a 12-acre Special Area of Conservation. Today it offers a quiet, free-entry walking trail through alkaline fens, historic canal remnants, and rich birdlife.
Laois, laois
The River Barrow winds 192 km from the Slieve Bloom Mountains to Waterford Harbour, threading historic towns and a 111 km engineered navigation. Its towpath is the Barrow Way, a gentle 117 km trail that lets walkers and cyclists soak up castles, monastic ruins and vibrant riverside life.
Kildare, kildare
Gentle towpaths trace the Barrow Way’s 117 km route, inviting walkers to glide past historic towns, medieval castles and serene riverbanks. The easy, level trail offers a tranquil introduction to Ireland’s second-longest river, where every bend reveals a slice of living heritage.
Bodenstown Graveyard, kildare
Bodenstown is the Kildare graveyard where Theobald Wolfe Tone, leader of the 1798 Rebellion, is buried beside a ruined medieval church. His tomb has drawn an annual republican pilgrimage every June since 1873, was bombed by the UVF in 1969, and was rebuilt in Irish limestone in 2013. A quiet rural site for most of the year, it comes alive on the June commemoration Sundays.
Rathangan, kildare
The Bog of Allen is one of Ireland's great raised bogs, spreading across five midland counties – too vast to 'visit' in any normal sense. The one place it becomes something you can walk and understand is the Irish Peatland Conservation Council's Nature Centre at Lullymore, with its bog-preserved finds, a carnivorous-plant greenhouse and a boardwalk over living peatland.
Carbury, kildare
Rising above the rural landscape of north-west County Kildare, Carbury Hill is a living timeline of Irish history. Visitors can trace footsteps from the Bronze Age to the 1798 Rebellion while exploring ancient barrows, a mythic sacred well, and the striking ruins of Carbury Castle.
Maynooth, kildare
Step onto the 1,100-acre Carton House estate and you’ll find a sweeping Georgian mansion framed by centuries-old oaks, championship golf courses winding through parkland, and a spa set in converted stables. From Michelin-level dining to historic film locations, this Fairmont-managed resort blends aristocratic heritage with modern Irish luxury.
Castledermot, kildare
Castledermot packs centuries of heritage into a compact, free-to-walk village circuit. Explore the graveyard of St James' Church for a rare Viking hogback stone and high crosses, then wander to the atmospheric ruins of the Franciscan friary and the surviving fragment of the medieval town wall.
Celbridge, kildare
Castletown House houses Ireland’s sole surviving 18th-century Print Room, a rare space where illustrated books were reproduced by hand. The grand Palladian mansion, completed in the late 1720s for Speaker William Conolly, sits amid 120 acres of parkland, river walks and ornamental follies.
Celbridge, kildare
Celbridge offers a blend of 18th-century elegance and medieval history just west of Dublin. Visitors can wander the parklands of Ireland's largest Palladian house, explore the town's riverside trails, or seek out the quiet stone ruins of Donaghcumper Church. It's a compact destination rich in literary connections and architectural heritage.
Clane, kildare
Clane's Franciscan friary, founded in 1272, stands as a roofless shell off Main Street, free to wander. Nearby, King Mesgegra's Mound is an Iron Age earthwork above the River Liffey, and riverside paths run from the town centre. The town sits 29 km west of Dublin in County Kildare.
Curragh Camp, kildare
Quiet grasslands of the Curragh plains conceal a centuries-old martial legacy beneath a sleek, multimedia museum. Inside, ancient ring-fort artefacts sit beside interactive displays of 20th-century armoured vehicles, linking prehistoric training grounds with modern defence narratives.
Sallins, kildare
Digby Lock operates with the same manual gates installed in the 1790s, guiding narrow barges along the Grand Canal. A relaxed 2.5-hour cruise offers close-up views of historic lock gates, the Leinster Aqueduct, and lush canal-side wildlife.
Donadea, kildare
Uniquely, Donadea Forest Park intertwines a 9/11 limestone memorial with the ruins of a 16th-century castle, creating Ireland’s only woodland tribute to that event. The 243-hectare park also offers the historic Lime Tree Avenue and a lakeside café, inviting walkers to trace centuries of heritage beneath towering oaks.
Dublin, dublin
The Dublin-Galway Greenway is a planned 276 km coast-to-coast route, but only the eastern part is built: over 100 km along the Royal Canal towpath and the Old Rail Trail from Mullingar to Athlone, all flat and traffic-free. The long gap from Athlone to Galway is still mostly unbuilt, so for now this is a midlands canal-and-rail ride, best taken in sections off the train line.
Knockaulin Hill, kildare
Perched on Knockaulin Hill in County Kildare, Dún Ailinne preserves one of Ireland’s most important prehistoric ceremonial sites. Visitors can walk the perimeter of the massive henge enclosure, explore a modern interpretative centre, and enjoy sweeping views across the Curragh plains.
Tullamore, meath
The Esker Riada is a chain of low gravel ridges left by Ice Age meltwater that runs across the midlands from Dublin to Galway. As the only dry path over the bogs it became the Slí Mhór, the Great Way, linking Clonard, Durrow and Clonmacnoise and marking the ancient boundary between the north and south of Ireland. The N6 still roughly follows it, and the Esker Hills golf course near Tullamore is built on it.
Kildare, kildare
One of the few Irish waterways recorded in the 12th-century Book of Leinster, the Figile River winds through the Midlands with legendary ties to Fionn Mac Cumhaill. Its peaceful banks host the scenic Figile River Walk, historic stone bridges, and quiet stretches perfect for angling and birdwatching.
Grand Canal towpath, kildare
Step off the Grand Canal towpath to discover the Four Potts Well, a quartet of interlocking stone basins that once regulated water levels for 18th-century barges. Carefully restored in 2023, this free-to-visit engineering marvel offers a quiet pause for walkers and history enthusiasts between the Leinster Aqueduct and Digby Bridge.
Great Connell, kildare
Founded in 1202 by Meiler fitz Henry and suppressed around 1540, this Augustinian house once held some 1,260 acres, six churches and five castles. What survives is the east window's Gothic tracery and a scatter of carved capitals, much of the rest quarried in the 1800s for Newbridge barracks. The site is unsigned and free.
Kildare, kildare
Harristown House is a late-Georgian mansion on a 700-acre Liffey demesne near Punchestown, Co Kildare, built for the Huguenot banking family the La Touches in 1768. A 30-minute guided tour takes in Soane-influenced interiors and a rare 17th-century Chinese wallpaper. It opens only a few weeks a year.
Allen, kildare
Rising above the Bog of Allen, this volcanic summit is crowned by a circular stone tower completed in 1863. The site blends Victorian engineering with deep Irish mythology, offering free access to panoramic peatland views, historic interpretive trails, and seasonal light events.
Tully, kildare
Sunlight glints off the rolling pastures of the Irish National Stud, where the scent of fresh hay mingles with the soft whinny of foals. Guided tours wander past the historic Sun Chariot Yard, the award-winning Japanese Gardens and the interactive Irish Racehorse Experience, offering a living museum of Ireland’s thoroughbred legacy.
Naas, kildare
Jigginstown was meant to be a palace for Charles I: a 137-metre red-brick house, one of the first brick buildings in Ireland, built near Naas by Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford. He was executed for treason in 1641 before it was finished, and the wars of the 1640s wrecked the rest. The brick shell still stands by the Newbridge Road, fenced off and awaiting OPW stabilisation.
Kilcock, kildare
Saint Coca, 6th-century nun and sister of St Kevin, founded the original church that gave Kilcock its name. The town’s modern art gallery and the Royal Canal Greenway now orbit the historic parish, preserving her legacy beside bustling markets and commuter links.
Kildangan, kildare
Kildangan is a small County Kildare village (population 317) whose name and history come from a Norman Fitzgerald castle, dynamited in 1882 to build the Victorian-Jacobean house at its heart. That estate is now Kildangan Stud, Godolphin's Irish headquarters, and its Foal-to-Fame walking tour is the reason most visitors come. The 1792 village church and the Barrow towpath fill out a quiet half-day.
Kildare Town, kildare
Just outside Dublin, Kildare Town blends early Christian history with modern day-trip appeal. St Brigid’s 12th-century round tower stands sentinel over the cathedral, while the town centre buzzes with independent shops, traditional pubs and the nearby Irish National Stud.
Kilkea, kildare
Among Ireland’s oldest inhabited castles, Kilkea Castle anchors a 180-acre estate that blends medieval stone keep with five-star resort luxuries. Guests can retreat to historic chambers, enjoy a championship golf course or unwind in a boutique spa, all while the castle’s 12th-century walls echo centuries of FitzGerald intrigue.
Colbinstown, kildare
Tucked along the River Greese, this ancient burial mound and early Christian site holds a remarkable collection of Ogham pillars. Wander the stone-walled enclosure to trace Ireland’s linguistic past and hear the folklore of King Cormac.
Rathangan, kildare
Killinthomas Wood is a 70-hectare beech-and-conifer forest 2 km north of Rathangan, with five colour-coded loops adding up to about 10 km. It won the Tidy Towns national award for wildlife conservation in 2001. For the bluebells and wild garlic, come in late April or early May, on a weekday if you can – the small car park fills fast at weekends.
Leinster Aqueduct, kildare
Completed in 1783, the Leinster Aqueduct carries the Grand Canal over the River Liffey on three sweeping limestone arches. Free to visit and set in quiet Kildare countryside, it offers a peaceful spot for walks, photography, and seasonal heritage barge cruises.
Leixlip, kildare
Contrasting its Viking-era origins with a modern high-tech economy, Leixlip thrives as a commuter town and industrial hub. The 12th-century Leixlip Castle, once besieged by Edward Bruce, stands beside the Intel fabrication plant, while the Royal Canal Greenway invites cyclists to glide past historic bridges and the iconic Wonderful Barn.
Rathangan, kildare
Set on a 60-acre island in the Bog of Allen, Lullymore Heritage Park blends 9,000 years of Irish history with active peatland conservation. Walk raised boardwalks through glassy lakes, explore interactive galleries covering monastic life and emigration, and enjoy dedicated play zones, all within a community-led social enterprise.
kildare
A tranquil tributary of the Rye River, the Lyreen meanders through Maynooth’s historic heart, past St Patrick’s College and the ruins of Maynooth Castle. Its gentle waters and surviving mill race make it an ideal spot for peaceful walks and quiet angling.
Naas, kildare
Two stone pyramids stand at the western edge of Maudlings Cemetery in Naas, raised around 1840 in the Egyptian Revival style and restored in 2020 after ivy nearly pulled them apart. The graveyard was given to the parish in 1780 by John Bourke, 1st Earl of Mayo, and holds the cartographer whose 1783 map first recorded it.
Maynooth, kildare
Maynooth Castle, stronghold of the FitzGerald earls from around 1200, still commands the main street, and tours of St Patrick's College next door take in an 800-year-old yew, a 'Ghost Room' and a chapel with a 3,106-pipe Ruffatti organ. The town is also the eastern trailhead of the flat, 130 km Royal Canal Greenway.
Maynooth, kildare
Towering stone walls and a dramatic gatehouse mark the site of Maynooth Castle, once the political heart of the FitzGerald dynasty in County Kildare. Visitors can freely explore the historic grounds and learn about Silken Thomas’s rebellion through on-site exhibitions.
Naas, kildare
Housed in a converted former Christian Brothers school on Abbey Road, the Moat Theatre combines historic stonework with a flexible 200-seat studio, café and ever-changing visual arts gallery. From theatre and comedy to Friday-morning markets and community workshops, it serves as Naas’s lively cultural hub.
Monasterevin, kildare
Canal-lined streets and a network of stone bridges give Monasterevin its 'Venice of Ireland' nickname, while Moore Abbey Hill and the Barrow Blueway offer scenic escapes just steps from the centre. A lively market town with deep historical roots, it makes an ideal stop for walkers, cyclists and heritage seekers.
Caragh, kildare
Discover Ireland’s premier motorsport venue in County Kildare. Mondello Park combines a 3.5 km FIA-graded International Circuit with historic racing heritage, hands-on driving experiences and family-friendly event days.
Moone, kildare
Just south of Dublin, Moone blends everyday village life with a remarkable medieval heritage. Visitors can walk freely among the abbey walls to study the intricate biblical carvings on the towering granite cross, all protected under a modern glass roof.
Naas, kildare
Once a royal assembly place for ancient kings, Naas has evolved into a lively modern market town with a rich medieval past. Explore its bustling Friday markets, historic canals, and world-class racecourses, all just a short drive from Dublin.
Newbridge, kildare
Newbridge blends a 13th-century river crossing with a thriving market high street and Ireland’s most celebrated cutlery-to-couture hub. Visitors can wander the town’s tidy grid, marvel at a 1788 cast-iron bridge and step inside the Newbridge Silverware Visitor Centre to meet Audrey Hepburn’s iconic black gown and Princess Diana’s ball gown.
Newbridge, kildare
Discover Irish craftsmanship and 20th-century glamour at the Newbridge Silverware Visitor Centre. Visitors can watch artisans at work on guided factory tours, explore the free Museum of Style Icons, and enjoy contemporary Irish dining.
Pollardstown Fen, kildare
Formed over 10,000 years ago in a glacial hollow, Pollardstown Fen is Ireland’s largest spring-fed calcareous fen. This 220-hectare national reserve offers a level boardwalk through reedbeds and alkaline pools, where rare orchids bloom and protected marsh fritillaries flutter among the vegetation.
Prosperous, kildare
In 1780 Sir Robert Brooke laid out Prosperous as a planned cotton town modelled on Manchester, promising each tenant a cow and a potato garden. The mill closed within a decade, and in 1798 rebels stormed the barracks and killed its commander; two monuments in the squares now mark that summer. Christy Moore recorded the 1972 album Prosperous in a cellar in the town.
Punchestown, kildare
When the Prince of Wales rode into Punchestown in 1868, the swelling crowd of five thousand rail passengers cemented the racecourse’s reputation as Ireland’s premier jumps venue. Today the 450-acre grounds host the five-day Festival, the unique cross-country banks course and the Bronze-Age Longstone, offering racing, concerts and equestrian events under the same historic sky.
Rathangan, kildare
Rathangan is a historic riverside town where the Slate River meets the Grand Canal, offering scenic walks, angling, and the earthworks of an ancient rath. Its location near Lullymore Heritage Park and the Bog of Allen makes it a perfect base for exploring Kildare's natural and cultural heritage.
Robertstown, kildare
Sitting at 85 metres above sea level, Robertstown marks the highest point on the Grand Canal. Visitors enjoy tranquil towpaths, historic canal infrastructure, and easy access to walking routes, coarse fishing, and nearby heritage parks.
Dublin, dublin
The Royal Canal stretches 130 km of level towpath from Maynooth to Cloondara, winding through five counties, 90 stone bridges and 33 working locks. Cyclists, walkers and runners can soak up wildlife, historic sites such as Maynooth Castle and the Hill of Uisneach, and the award-winning scenery of Ireland’s longest greenway.
kildare
Sallins sits on the banks of the Grand Canal, blending commuter life with 18th-century engineering. From the Tudor-styled railway station to the manually operated Digby Lock, the village offers a clear window into Ireland’s waterway heritage and peaceful riverside walks.
Kildare, kildare
Perched on a green hill overlooking Kildare, St Brigid’s Cathedral blends early-Christian roots with 13th-century Gothic architecture. Climb the 33-metre round tower, admire the ancient pillar and discover stone carvings that span centuries of Irish faith.
Straffan, kildare
Quiet riverside lanes wind through Straffan, yet the village pulses with the opulence of the K Club’s championship golf courses and the medieval grandeur of Barberstown Castle. The blend of pastoral flood-meadows and world-class sport estates offers visitors a seamless shift from serene nature walks to elite leisure pursuits.
Taghadoe, kildare
A nearly 20-metre-tall 10th-century round tower stands guard over 19th-century church ruins and a quiet burial ground. This OPW-managed national monument offers a free, unguided glimpse into early Christian and post-Reformation Ireland.
The Curragh, kildare
Stretching 5,000 acres between Kildare and Newbridge, the Curragh is a sweeping plain of ancient grassland that cradles Ireland’s premier flat-racing venue and a rich military legacy. From the thunder of the Classics to quiet walks among fenland birds, the landscape offers history, sport and natural beauty in one unforgettable setting.
