Town Heritage Centre Kildare Town Heritage Centre is an exciting visitor attraction situated in the picturesque town of Kildare. It is an area renowned for its bloodstock industry and is on the main Dublin/Cork/ Limerick Road (N7), within 5 minutes of the famous Japanese Gardens, and the Racecourse. Located in the restored 18th century market house is a multi media exhibition centre telling the story of Kildare past and present. Your host Cogitosus a 7th century monk will take St Brigid you on an fascinating journey through time – an audio visual presentation of the town from when St Brigid established her She arrived with her nuns in the year 480 AD. She decided on church in 480ad, to later centuries when Kildare was raided by Druim Criaig (oak covered ridge) rising above the Curragh Vikings and later ruled by Normans. In medieval times it had plains. There under a great oak tree, she built her “abbey” abbeys of Franciscans and Carmelites and its citizens experienced and hence the name of the present town of Kildare – Cill the 1798 rebellion. Kildare gradually developed into a market Dara, the cell or church of the oak. War and Rebellion town and a modern town while still preserving the outline of She approached the King of Leinster seeking land for her its street patterns, Round Tower and Cathedral, which entice abbey. In return for curing a deformity, he agreed to give her Kildare suffered on several occasions as rival chiefs fought the visitor to explore the various sites of interest throughout as much land as her cloak would cover – which according to over titles and lands of the monastery – the control of such Kildare. legend spread out to cover the entire Curragh. a holy site with its attractions for pilgrims made it desirable Kildare Town Heritage Centre is the ideal starting point for a place to be included in a tribal chief’s area of influence. tour of Kildare Town. An integral part of the story of Kildare is to visit the Historical sites after visiting the centre. Monastic City A Prosperous Town Opening Hours Vikings attacked Monastic cities because of their wealth. May - September Mon-Sat: 9.30 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. The first of 15 attacks in Kildare occurred in 835 and the Declined up to the mid 18th century because of no river and Oct – April Mon-Sat: 10.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m.* *subject to change Vikings took away shrines of St Brigid and St Conleth. was not on a major route. However in 1731 the road from Naas to Maryborough (Portlaoise) was turnpiked - placing - Free Admission - Kildare on the main route to Dublin and benefited from passing trade. For more Information Contact: MARY STONES Medieval Kildare Tel: 00 353 45 530672 In the 19th century there was a steady expansion of the Website: www.kildare.ie/kildareheritage/ The street pattern of the medieval town that surrounded the town, which saw the coming of the railway and the military Castle and Cathedral has been identified, but as Kildare was barracks on the Curragh. E-Mail: [email protected] outside the pale it did not develop to such an extent as did more secure centres such as Naas. After the collapse of the pilgrimage and cult of St Brigid following the reformation A Garrison Town and the devastating wars of the 17th century, the status of the site declined. The 1st military barracks was opened in 1901. In 1922 the British vacated the barracks. In March 1925 the newly created Artillery Corp arrived in Kildare. In 1998 they departed Kildare. Thank you for visiting Kildare Town!!! 8. The Grey Abbey 1. Kildare Town Heritage Centre (Market House) The abbey lies south of the town and its ruins are sadly depleted. The Grey Situated in the restored 18th century market house. The centre is an ideal point Abbey was erected by Lord William De Vesci for the Franciscan Friars in of departure from which to explore the ancient treasures of the town. 1260. Eight Earls of Kildare are buried there.

9. Kildare Village Outlet Shopping Find previous seasons’ collections from international designer brands 2. St Brigid’s FLAME at up to 60% off all year round. Open seven days a week President Mary McAleese presented the perpetual flame of Brigid to the people of Ireland and beyond on St Brigid’s Day February 1st 2006. The flame, which burned in Kildare for over fifteen 10. St Brigid’s Well hundred years continues to be a beacon of hope, justice and peace to our world. It is located close to the Black Abbey near the site of the millrace, which was used 3. St Brigid’s Cathedral by St Brigid. This well is a site for religious devotion particularly on St Brigid’s The Cathedral is located on the original grounds of St Brigid’s wooden annual feast day of February 1st. church. Between 1223 and 1230 the present Cathedral was built. It was semi- ruinous by the year 1500, derelict by 1649, partially rebuilt in 1686 and finally restored to its present form from 1875 – 1896. Its environs include a Round 11. The Japanese Gardens / The Irish National Tower and a High Cross. Major Restoration works took place in 1996. Stud / Saint Fiachra’s Garden / irish horse museum 4. Round Tower Colonel Hall Walker founded the National Stud in Tully in 1900. In 1944 The original tower possibly 6th century succumbed to assault or simply fell into The National Stud was handed over to the Irish Government and became the ruin. At any rate its present rebuilding seems to date from the 12th century. Irish National Stud in 1945. The construction of the Japanese Gardens took The Tower, built of sandstone and granite, is 108 feet high and the second highest in place from 1906 until 1910 by the celebrated gardener Tassa Eida. The gardens Ireland but the highest one that can be climbed. symbolise the life of man. St. Fiachra’s Garden has four acres of woodland and lakeside walks and it features a Waterford Crystal garden set within a monastic cell. The Horse Museum has an exhibition where the Sport of Kings comes to life. 5. St Brigid’s Fire Temple On the north side of the Cathedral are the restored foundations of an ancient fire temple. A small fire is often lit in the fire temple for ritual on St 12. The Black Abbey Brigid’s Feastday on the 1st February. This flame was symbolically relit in The abbey ruins are in the grounds of the Irish National Stud. The 1993 and for the present is kept in Solas Bhríde House. Knights Hospitaller founded the Black Abbey in 1212 at Tully. The De Vesci Family established the abbey and bred horses in Tully before 6. Kildare castle they lost their Kildare lands to the Fitzgeralds in the 13th century. Behind the Silken Thomas premises is the site and one gatehouse of the 12th century Fitzgerald Castle. The Castle was once one of the most 13. The Curragh Plains important Castles of the Normans in Leinster. In the 1790s Lord Edward The main Dublin - Kildare road cuts through the flat green Fitzgerald lived at Leinster lodge in the Castle bawn. expanse of the Curragh. It is the largest tract of semi natural The Fitzgeralds took advantage of Kildare’s location as a frontier town grassland in Europe consisting of 5000 acres of rolling plains. It is between the English Pale and the Gaelic Irish Territory to increase their largest unfertilized greenland in Ireland. The Limestone rich grass power and influence. strengthens the horses’ bones, improves the breed and produces some of the finest horses in the world. 7. The White Abbey trained by Dermot Weld on the Curragh was the first horse from the Northern Founded in 1292 by William De Vesci Lord of Kildare. The Carmelites of the White Abbey Hemisphere to win the Melbourne Cup. The Curragh is now the site of the internationally celebrated 700 years in 1992. renowned racecourse and also houses the largest army base in the country.