Kildare

Kildare is a town in County Kildare 50 km southwest of Dublin, and part of the city's commuter belt. It's best known for its cathedral, and for its thoroughbred stud farm. Although it shares its name with the county, it's not the county town, which is Naas. In 2016 Kildare had a population of 8600.

Newbridge is another commuter town, 5 km east across the plain of The Curragh. The bridge in question is over the Liffey, which halts its westward course to make a broad U-turn and head east into Dublin. Newbridge grew rapidly in the 19th century as a garrison and industrial town, and in 2016 had a population of 23,000. Officially known by its Irish name of An Droichead Nua, it's the largest town in the county and its visitor facilities are also described here.

Kilcullen is the third of the towns grouped around The Curragh. It has motorway links but no railway so it hasn't burgeoned like the others, and in 2016 had a population of 3500.

Understand
Brigid was a Celtic goddess cloaked in glittering legends. Her many powers, attributes and miracles particularly centred on fire, and on fertility of plants, farm beasts and humankind. St Brigid (451-525; in Irish Naomh Bríd) is said to have founded an abbey at Kildare in 480, and in hagiographies she strongly resembled the pagan Brigid: clearly the old folk tales were Christianised and grafted onto her. And somebody established an early religious centre here, so we may as well credit St Brigid. She's said to have founded it by an oak tree, hence Cill Dara or "Church of the Oak." She wouldn't need to look very far, as in her days the western lowlands of Europe were carpeted in oak forests, and daire or -derry is a common placename element.

By plane
Dublin Airport has a wide range of flights and good onward transport. Bus N7 runs hourly round the clock from the airport to Kildare and Portlaoise, see below.

By train
Commuter trains run hourly from Dublin Heuston via Dublin Park West & Cherry Orchard, Clondalkin, Adamstown, Hazelhatch, Sallins (for Naas) and Newbridge, taking 50 min to Kildare. They continue to Monasterevin, Portarlington and Portlaoise. A walk-up single might be €11; see Irish Rail for timetables, fares and online tickets.

Intercity trains run non-stop from Heuston to Kildare in 30 min, then fan out towards Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Westport. Trains from Belfast, Sligo, Wexford and Rosslare ferry port, and Dublin suburban lines, use Dublin Connolly station so you have to factor in a 5 km cross-town transfer.

is 500 m north of town centre.

By bus
Dublin Coach 300 / M7 runs every 30 min from Dublin Burgh Quay via Red Cow Luas (it doesn't use Busáras) and takes just under an hour to Kildare retail village (it doesn't come into town centre). It continues to Limerick then either north of the Shannon to Bunratty and Ennis or south to Adare, Newcastle West, Abbeyfeale, Killarney and Tralee.

Dublin Coach 726 / N7, aka "The Green Bus", runs hourly round the clock from Dublin Airport via Red Cow Luas (for Dublin city trams), Naas and Newbridge to Kildare (90 min), and continues to Monasterevin (for Portarlington) and Portlaoise. A single is €10.

GoAhead Commuter Bus 126 runs every hour or two from Dublin Docklands and Heuston station via Rathcoole, Kill, Naas and Newbridge, taking 1 hr 45 min to Kildare. The service is every 30 min as far as Newbridge.

Kyanitedale Bus 826 runs M-F every hour or two from Naas to Newbridge, Kildare and Monasterevin.

Local Link Bus 883 runs from Athy to Kildare (40 min) and Newbridge. There are four M-W and six Th-Sa.

in town centre is the bus stop for everything except the M7.

By car
From Dublin follow N7 / M7 and leave at jcn 13 for Kildare. The first section to Naas hasn't been upgraded to motorway but an hour should do it.

Get around
Kildare is small enough to walk around. This includes the National Stud 2 km south, as the road has a sidewalk.

Buses and trains link Kildare and Newbridge.

See

 * 500 m south of town centre is just a few tumbledown walls in an old cemetery. It was founded in 1260 for the Franciscans.
 * Black Abbey, just to ensure you collect the full set, is on Tully Road by the National Stud. Set in an old graveyard, it's a sturdy tower built 13th / 14th century for the Knights Hospitaller of St John, who wore black robes. There's no interior access but you see enough over the low hedge.
 * 500 m south of town centre is just a few tumbledown walls in an old cemetery. It was founded in 1260 for the Franciscans.
 * Black Abbey, just to ensure you collect the full set, is on Tully Road by the National Stud. Set in an old graveyard, it's a sturdy tower built 13th / 14th century for the Knights Hospitaller of St John, who wore black robes. There's no interior access but you see enough over the low hedge.
 * Black Abbey, just to ensure you collect the full set, is on Tully Road by the National Stud. Set in an old graveyard, it's a sturdy tower built 13th / 14th century for the Knights Hospitaller of St John, who wore black robes. There's no interior access but you see enough over the low hedge.
 * The Curragh is the flat grassy plain east of Kildare. Sand deposited by glacial meltwater has given it good drainage, so it's long been common grazing land for livestock (though pigs have been forbidden since 1299), for horse racing, and for parading and exercising troops. The first permanent military camp was built in 1856 for the Crimea Wars - until then the barracks were in Newbridge, with just tents out on the plain. Nearby were the camp followers or "Wrens", first recorded from 1840, a group of some 60 women in makeshift shelters. Some were in irregular partnerships with soldiers and therefore not allowed to live in married quarters in camp, others were sex workers. Curragh Camp is now Ireland's largest defence establishment, with some 2000 personnel. The M7 bisects Curragh plain with the camp south and the racecourse north.
 * on R413 east of the plain is an obelisk celebrating the prizefighter Dan Donnelly (1788-1820), who had notable victories at this spot. This was bare-knuckle fighting, before boxing was codified. Post-mortem, his formidable right arm embarked on a remarkable solo career. An urban myth grew up that his arms stretched to his knees, but they were in proportion to his 6 foot / 183 cm stature.
 * is a wetland nature reserve and Ramsar site. Ireland is notoriously boggy but this place is unusual is being fed by calcareous springs from the aquifer beneath the plain. It's been compromised and whittled down by drainage over the centuries, including in 2003 by construction of the M7, but you can stroll along a boardwalk over what remains.
 * has a Heritage Park and the Bog of Allen Nature Centre.
 * has a Heritage Park and the Bog of Allen Nature Centre.

Do

 * Gaelic games: Kildare GAA play football and hurling at St Conleth's Park, capacity 6200, in Newbridge town centre.
 * Greyhound racing is at Newbridge Greyhound Stadium, on R416 one km northwest of Newbridge railway station and 2 km from town.
 * Golf: the terrain is good for golf so there are several nearby courses. These include Cill Dara north side of Kildare town, Royal Curragh by the military base, and Newbridge north of that town.
 * Punchestown Racecourse: see Naas.
 * Cinema: the Odeon is in Newbridge at Whitewater Shopping Centre.
 * Riverbank Arts Centre is a theatre in Newbridge, north end of Main St. Box office is +353 45 448 327.
 * K Leisure is a gym and swimming pool on Station Rd Newbridge. It's open M-F 6AM-9:30PM, Sa Su 9AM-4:30PM.
 * Gordon Bennett Classic Car Rally, open to vehicles of 30 years or older, circles through Portlaoise, Kildare, Stradbally, Athy and Carlow. It's held in June over the Bank Holiday weekend.
 * Gordon Bennett Classic Car Rally, open to vehicles of 30 years or older, circles through Portlaoise, Kildare, Stradbally, Athy and Carlow. It's held in June over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Buy

 * Newbridge is a better bet for day-to-day shopping, with Whitewater Centre and supermarkets.
 * Newbridge is a better bet for day-to-day shopping, with Whitewater Centre and supermarkets.

Eat

 * Silken Thomas is a pub bistro with rooms, see Sleep.
 * Others around the Square in Kildare are Sitaaray Indian, Victoria House (Chinese), Agape Food Bar, Strong's Cafe, Kingsland (Chinese) and Hons (Chinese).
 * L'Officina is part of the Dunne & Crescenzi chain of Italian restaurants. It's in the Village retail mall and is open M-Th 8:30AM-8PM, F-Su 7:30AM-9PM.
 * Others around the Square in Kildare are Sitaaray Indian, Victoria House (Chinese), Agape Food Bar, Strong's Cafe, Kingsland (Chinese) and Hons (Chinese).
 * L'Officina is part of the Dunne & Crescenzi chain of Italian restaurants. It's in the Village retail mall and is open M-Th 8:30AM-8PM, F-Su 7:30AM-9PM.

Drink

 * Boyle's Bar is a trad place on Market Square open W-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 12:30-11PM.
 * James Nolan's is a cosy pub on Dublin St with TV sport, open M-Sa 10:30AM-midnight, Su 12:30-11PM.
 * James Nolan's is a cosy pub on Dublin St with TV sport, open M-Sa 10:30AM-midnight, Su 12:30-11PM.

Sleep

 * Firecastle Deli on Market Square has rooms, see Eat.
 * Firecastle Deli on Market Square has rooms, see Eat.
 * Firecastle Deli on Market Square has rooms, see Eat.

Connect
As of July 2021, Kildare has 5G from Eir and 4G from Three and Vodafone.

Go next

 * Naas nearby has Punchestown racecourse.
 * Portlaoise is a workaday town, but it's near Rock of Dunamase and Timahoe Round Tower.
 * Blessington just over the county boundary has the grand Russborough House, with the Wicklow Mountains rising to the east.
 * Dublin is an hour away. If you head there in the morning, most of Kildare and Newbridge will be travelling with you.