Kildare

Kildare is flat, fast and closer to Dublin than people expect. The Curragh and the National Stud are what the county is known for, and the rest of this list is round towers, high crosses, forest parks and canal towpaths. These are the ten we would start with, with ten more underneath them.

Garden · Kildare townIrish National Stud and Japanese GardensTully is still a working thoroughbred farm, and the Japanese gardens beside it were laid out between 1906 and 1910.

House and gardens · CelbridgeCastletown House and ParklandsIreland's first Palladian country house went up from 1722 at Celbridge, with parkland running down to the Liffey behind it.

Cathedral · Kildare townSt Brigid's Cathedral and Round TowerThe 13th century cathedral stands on the town square, and the round tower beside it is open to climb for the view out over the plain.

1. The CurraghPark · NewbridgeTwo thousand hectares of unfenced grass between Newbridge and Kildare town, grazed by sheep and worked every morning by racehorses.
2. Donadea Forest ParkForest · ClaneNear Clane, forest laid out around the ruins of Donadea Castle, with a lake, a walled garden and a 9/11 memorial inside it.
3. Maynooth CastleCastle · MaynoothKeep and gatehouse of the Fitzgerald stronghold, standing at the top of Maynooth main street beside the university gates.
4. Moone High CrossMonastic site · AthySeventeen feet of granite high cross under a roofed shelter at Moone, carved with fifty one scriptural panels.
5. Castledermot Round TowerMonastic site · CastledermotThe round tower here is built onto the church itself, and the graveyard around it holds two granite high crosses and a Romanesque doorway.
6. Castledermot Franciscan FriaryRuin · CastledermotThe nave, the tower and the transept of this 13th century friary are all still standing, on the edge of the village.
7. Taghadoe Round Tower and ChurchMonastic site · MaynoothThe round tower lost its cap. It stands with a ruined church in flat farmland a few kilometres west of Maynooth.

1. Ballitore Library & Quaker MuseumMuseum · BallitoreThe Ballitore Library and Quaker Museum is housed in the restored Meeting House of the Society of Friends in Ballitore County Kildare.
2. Rye River Brewing Co.Museum · CelbridgeRye River Brewing Co. is an independent Irish brewery based in Celbridge, County Kildare.
3. Clonfert FarmVisitor farm · ClonfertClonfert Farm and mini zoo offers a great selection of farm and zoo animals and a huge selection of activities for all the family to enjoy.
4. St Mary's Church LeixlipAbbey or church · LeixlipSt Mary’s Church is found in the heart of Leixlip Village, just 20 minutes west of Dublin City.
5. Maynooth Campus Conference & AccommodationCastle or historic house · MaynoothMaynooth Campus Conference & Accommodation in County Kildare, is a beautiful university campus.
6. Nina Patterson ArtGallery · MaynoothNina Patterson is an Irish artist providing year round painting courses and workshops in Maynooth, County Kildare.
7. Moore Abbey WoodForest park · MonasterevanMoore Abbey Wood is a mixed woodland of a variety of broadleaves and conifers, in Monasterevin County Kildare.
8. Coolcarrigan HouseCastle or historic house · NaasCoolcarrigan House and Gardens are approached by a long, woodland avenue, which has a large collection of rhododendrons and azaleas.
9. Coolcarrigan House GardensAbbey or church · NaasThe beautiful gardens at Coolcarrigan House are approached by a long, woodland avenue, which has a large collection of rhododendrons and azaleas.
10. Johnstown Garden CentreGarden · NaasThe Johnstown Garden Centre is a large, award winning garden centre found near Naas in County Kildare.
11. Riverbank Arts CentreGallery · NewbridgeRiverbank Arts Centre is based in Newbridge, County Kildare, located just off the M7 motorway, a short 40 minutes drive from Dublin City.
12. Bog of Allen Nature CentreMuseum · RathanganThe Bog of Allen Nature Centre in Rathangan, County Kildare is run by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC).
13. Kildare Brewing CompanyMuseum · Sallins
14. Lock 13 BrewpubMuseum · SallinsLock 13 Brewpub is a cosy canal side venue located in Sallins, County Kildare.
15. Lodge Park Walled GardenGarden · StraffanThe Lodge Park Walled Garden is located at The Steam Museum in Straffan, County Kildare.
16. The Steam Museum and Lodge Park Walled GardenAbbey or church · StraffanIf you are looking for an enjoyable and interesting day out you should visit The Steam Museum and Lodge Park Walled Garden, Straffan.
17. The Irish National Stud & GardensMuseum · TullyVisit the Irish National Stud & Gardens in the heart of the thoroughbred county, County Kildare.
18. Bodenstown GraveyardAncient site · KildareThe ancient Parish Church of Bodenstown is annually the scene of a political pilgrimage held on the last Sunday in June.
19. Curragh Military MuseumMuseum · KildareThe physical environment, the military presence and the social aspects of life on the Curragh plains are told in the museum.
20. Harristown HouseCastle or historic house · KildareHarristown House was built in the second half of the 18th century under the supervision of the architect Whitmore Davis.
21. Irish Working SheepdogsVisitor farm · KildareEnjoy a unique experience at Irish Working Sheepdogs in Ballybaught, County Kildare.
22. Kilteel CastleAncient site · KildareThe village of Kilteel lies six miles north of Naas at the foot of the Wicklow mountains.
23. Oak Park Forest ParkForest park · KildareThe park is a mature, mixed-species woodland of about 50 hectares, with a predominance of beech, oak, Scots pine, silver fir, larch and sycamore.
24. Pollardstown FenNature and wildlife · KildareFound just 3km from Newbridge, County Kildare, Pollardstown Fen is about 220 hectares of alkaline peatland.
25. Punchestown Standing StoneAttraction · KildareThe Punchestown Standing Stone is the tallest and most remarkable of several long stones in County Kildare.

• MeathAn Mhí
• DublinBaile Átha Cliath
• WicklowCill Mhantáin
• CarlowCeatharlach
• LaoisLaois
• OffalyUíbh Fhailí