Kildare
From high-flying horse racing to simply great golf
Activities
Kildare hosts some of Ireland’s best sporting events with top golf and excellent horse racing
Canal Pleasure Tour, Mylerstown
Spend your Sunday afternoon in style with a laid-back boat tour around the Grand Canal.
Canal Walks
There are over 75 miles of canals in County Kildare and a fantastic way of exploring them is actually by land with a scenic canal walk.
Golf
Try the famed K Club in County Kildare in Straffan, which will play host to the 2006 Ryder Cup.
See more highlightsHorse Racing
The Curragh Racecourse in Kildare has been the headquarters of horse racing in Ireland since the first race took place in 1741. It’s also one of Ireland's premier sporting venues and is home to the undisputed highlight of the Irish racing calendar, The Curragh Irish Derby. Punchestown, close by, also specializes in a four-day derby spectacle that attracts the cream of National Hunt racehorses from across Europe.
Thoroughbred Horse Sale at Goffs in Kill, County Kildare
There are seven sales spread throughout the year, and even if you’re not quite in the market for a thoroughbred, it’s definitely worth a look.
Children
There’s a stack of kids’ attractions in the busy county of Kildare.
Irish National Stud, Japanese Gardens and St Fiachra's Garden, Kildare
Set amid 958 acres of land, the National Stud includes the Irish Horse Museum, and the beautiful Japanese Gardens.
Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park, Rathangan
A small mineral island that rises gently out of the Bog of Allen, Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park provides a unique and fascinating insight into the development of the Irish people over 9,500 years.
Millennium Maze, Prosperous
This is a large 6ft-high hedge grown on Ballinafagh Farm to mark the Millennium. The Millennium Maze comes in the shape of St. Brigid’s Cross and has over one-and-a-half miles of paths to lose yourself amongst.
See more highlightsThe Steam Museum, Straffan
At the Guinness Steam Museum you can marvel at live steam engines, explore the walled garden, and enjoy a multi-media information channel and a hands-on area.
Culture & festivals
From elegant Georgian houses to beautiful gardens
Ballindoolin House and Gardens
This beautiful Georgian house is enhanced by a 100m herbaceous border, parterre, nature trail and tree folklore trail.
Castletown House
Castletown kicked off a revolution in Irish architecture and is the largest and most splendid country house in Ireland.
Kildare Town Heritage Centre
Located in a restored 18th-century market house, this multi-media exhibition centre takes you on a fascinating journey through the history of Kildare.
See more highlightsLarchill Gardens, Kilcock,
These beautiful gardens include a pets’ corner, a sandpit, playground, woodland walks, lake and wildflower meadow.
Eating, Drinking & Luxury
Indulge yourself with opulent, elegant and charming places to stay.
Leixlip House Hotel, Leixlip
It may be only eight miles from Dublin city center, but Leixlip House feels like it’s a million miles away. Extensively renovated and beautifully furnished with antiques, the hotel dates back to 1772 and has a quiet intimate atmosphere with only 19 rooms. Try the Bradaun Restaurant for some delicious modern Irish cuisine.
Osprey House Hotel & Spa, Naas
Leave your stress behind at this stylish new contemporary hotel with luxurious state-of-the-art bedrooms, fusion cuisine, spa treatments and a unique Time Bar in a three-story atrium.
The K Club, Straffan
Elegant, opulent and utterly luxurious, the K Club is one of Ireland’s premier hotel and country clubs, with a whole host of facilities and activities, including a top spa, two renowned 18-hole golf courses, three restaurants, a sumptuous bar and an array of country sports including fishing, shooting and horse riding. It’s also home to the Ryder Cup 2006!
Shopping
From stylish designer boutiques to simply beautiful silver.
Kalu, Naas, County Kildare
Excellent women’s designer store stocking an eclectic range of top-name labels.
Newbridge Silverware Showroom, Newbridge, County Kildare
As well as producing good quality silverware with cutlery, gifts and jewelry, Newbridge also creates an extensive range of homewares, as well as a quality range of glass and cutlery from Irish designer Paul Costelloe.
Sightseeing
Explore a range of sights in Kildare from country houses to 15th century castles
Furness House, Naas
Furness House includes a Georgian house, medieval church and Bronze Age longstone. The house is in the Palladian style and was built around 1730-90, while the medieval church dates back to 550AD.
Grange Castle, Edenderry
This late 15th century tower house is set in six acres of grounds and has a pretty walled garden and a recently constructed labyrinth.
