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Leixlip —County Kildare

Leixlip is located on the banks of the River Liffey, 17km west of Dublin on the M4 and is Co. Kildare's youngest yet most populous town. One of the attractions in the locality is St. Mary's Church, which was built in the 12th century. Only the tower survived an attack by Robert de Bruce in 1317. The clock on the tower dates from the 18th century. In addition The Wonderful Barn, an unusual 5 storey circular building with a winding stone stairway around it, was built in 1743 to provide work for the poor. The town is also a popular location for angling and canoeing. The hydroelectric plant and dam allows the river to flood once a year for the Annual Liffey Descent - a canoe race that attracts canoeists from many countries.