| Home |
| Photos of Ireland |
| Other Countries |
| Freisk! News |
| Contact |
_______________________ |
_______________________ |
_______________________ |
| County Kildare |
Even if it is known internationally as the “Horse County”, County Kildare is actually more than a horse breeding centre. Kildare is mainly a rural county, 45km from Dublin City Centre, housing the National Stud (see below), rich peat lands (managed by Bord Na Mona) and some picturesque areas. There are several sites to visit in Co. Kildare, so if you plan to go there for a few hours, here's what you could see, do or visit. |
| 1. Visit the National Studs... [   ] The National Stud is located only an hour from Dublin in Tully, Co. Kildare. This is a 400 ha farm, which has been in use as a Stud Farm since 1900 and is the last home to some of Ireland's finest thoroughbreds. There, you will see former race winners (some even won prizes in France!). Most retired champions end up in stud farms, rather than abattoirs (horsemeat isn’t a delicacy in English speaking-countries unlike France or Belgium). |
| 2. Meditate with Saint Fiachra... [ ] In 1999 the Irish National Stud created a commemorative garden to St. Fiachra, Patron Saint of Gardeners, to celebrate the Millennium. On the right-hand side, you can see a photo of St Fiachra's statue in the middle of the pool... Every time I look at it, it makes me think of Rodin's Thinker... |
| 3. Visit Saint Fiachra's Gardens... [ ] The garden seeks to capture the power of the Irish landscape in its most natural state... harmoniously mixing rock and water. You'll actually see nice waterfalls in the middle of rocks (see photo). |
| 4. Visit the Japanese Gardens... [ ] Located within the National Stud in Tully, Co. Kildare, the Japanese Gardens were created between the years 1906-1910. Devised by Colonel William Hall-Walker, a wealthy Scotsman and were laid out by the Japanese gardener Eida and his son Minoru. The Gardens are planned to symbolise the "Life of Man". If you would like to see real Japanese Gardens, feel free to visit my page on Japan. Click here. |
5. Visit Celbridge...
|
6. Visit Castletown House... [  ] Castletown is the largest and most significant Palladian style country house in Ireland. It was built in circa 1722 for the speaker of the Irish House of Commons, William Conolly (1622- 1729). The inside of the House can be visited by guided tour. In one word: Fantastic! |
 Photo 6. Castletown House. |
| 7. Wander through the fields of Castletown Estate... [  ] When you leave Castletown House, you can have a pleasant walk in the surrounding estate. The lands are located far from traffic noise and the pollution. However, you will experience the noise of planes coming from a local airport... it can feel like Gary Grant in "North By Northwest". |
| County Kildare in pictures | ||
|
 |
|
|
||
 Photo 2. Let's be zen with St Fiachra. |
||
 Photo 3. St Fiachra's Gardens. |
||
 Photo 4. Japanese Gardens of Tuly. |
||
 Photo 5. The Liffey also crosses Celbridge. |
||
 Photo 7. Fields of Castletown. |
||
Legend:
Nice; Worth a visit; Well worth visiting
Please note that this grading system is only based on my interests and personal experience as a French expat in Ireland. Feel free to visit the same locations and share your experience 
.
Free or Not Applicable Entrance fee ≤€5 ; €5<Entrance fee≤€10 ; €10<Entrance fee≤€15 and so on...
These price ranges are indicative only to help you plan your holiday budget and are subject to change. Discounts generally apply for families, groups, children, students and seniors citizens.
While the admission to this site is free, a parking fee may apply.
Heritage Site managed by the Office of Public Works. Most OPW sites are free of charge on the first Wednesday of every month during 2011. A Good tip: the Heritage Card entitles you unlimited admission for one year to all OPW sites (around €21).