County Kildare

The bright green pastures of County Kildare are one of the quintessential images of Ireland. The county is famous for horse racing, and many of the world's finest thoroughbreds are raised and trained here. The Curragh Racecourse at Newbridge hosts the five Irish Classic flat races, including the Irish Derby. Other racecourses are at Naas and Punchestown, home of Irish National Hunt Racing. A tour of the Irish National Stud at Tully offers a fascinating insight into how these equine champions are produced. Also on the site are the exquisite Japanese Gardens and the natural landscape of St. Fiachra's Garden. A highlight of Kildare Town is the ...

The bright green pastures of County Kildare are one of the quintessential images of Ireland. The county is famous for horse racing, and many of the world's finest thoroughbreds are raised and trained here. The Curragh Racecourse at Newbridge hosts the five Irish Classic flat races, including the Irish Derby. Other racecourses are at Naas and Punchestown, home of Irish National Hunt Racing. A tour of the Irish National Stud at Tully offers a fascinating insight into how these equine champions are produced. Also on the site are the exquisite Japanese Gardens and the natural landscape of St. Fiachra's Garden. A highlight of Kildare Town is the 13th-century St. Brigid's Cathedral, named for one of Ireland's patron saints. You can climb its round tower, the second highest in the country. At Celbridge, the Palladian-style Castletown House is among Ireland's finest historic houses. Maynooth Castle, with its formidable keep, was the stronghold of the powerful Fitzgerald family, Earls of Kildare. Ireland's Grand Canal flows through the pretty towns of Athy and Monasterevin. County Kildare also contains part of the enormous Bog of Allen, with its important peatland environment.

About the Expert

Donna Dailey is the author of Thomas Cook’s Ireland driving guide, coauthor of DK’s Back Roads Ireland and several other titles, as well as the author of Thomas Cook’s HotSpots Costa Blanca and a contributor to AA Publishing’s Key Guide Spain.