County Kildare
Travel Guide

County Kildare

Des chevaux du Connemara - Tanya Hart - cc

Explore County Kildare

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County Kildare : Must-See Attractions

Beaches

Benone beach

Benone beach is a sublime beach in Limavady, County Derry, Northern Ireland. This beach is unique in that it is linked to…

Castles

Castle Bernard

Castle Bernard is a 16th-century castle that was burnt down in 1921 following the British-Irish conflict. Although in ruins, the building has…

Castles

Kilkea Castle

Kilkea Castle is a superb Irish castle in County Kildare. Located 5km from Castledermot, the castle’s origins date back to the 12th…

Rivers

Lough Allen

Lough Allen is a pretty Irish lake in County Leitrim, Ireland. A tranquil lake with deep waters, popular with fishermen and water…

Irish culture

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County Kildare

County Kildare extends west of Dublin across a region of fertile plains, grand estates and small towns well connected to the capital. Its proximity to Dublin should not reduce it to a mere residential area: Kildare has its own identity, strongly linked to horses, the wide open spaces of the Curragh, and an important religious and aristocratic heritage.

Understanding County Kildare

Kildare had a population of 247,774 in the 2022 census. The north and east of the county are closely integrated into the Dublin metropolitan area, while the west and south retain a more rural character.

The Curragh and the equestrian tradition

The Curragh is one of the county’s emblematic landscapes: a vast open plain long associated with horses, racing and thoroughbred breeding.

Kildare Town, Maynooth and the grand estates

Kildare Town retains a heritage linked to Saint Brigid. Maynooth offers another face, shaped by its university and heritage. Several historic estates and gardens complete this picture of the area.

Canals, bogs and inland landscapes

The Grand Canal, wetlands and bog landscapes are reminders that Kildare also belongs to the Midlands and offer routes suited to walking and cycling.

How should you plan a stay?

One to two days are enough to discover the main centres from Dublin. To gain a better understanding of the county, it is worth combining the Curragh, Kildare Town, Maynooth and a rural area.