|
KILDARE town is a delight: a solid, respectable place centred on a sloping triangular square, dominated by the massive, squat Church of Ireland Cathedral of St Brigid , who founded a religious house here in 490. The present structure dates originally from the thirteenth century, though the north transept and choir were burned to the ground in the Confederate War of 1641, and the Victorian reconstruction of 1875 is pseudo-medieval. Its round tower, probably twelfth century, has a particularly elaborate doorway twelve feet up; nineteenth-century battlements conceal the original conical roof - which you find yourself standing on once you've climbed to the top. The views from here are fine - rolling farmland to the south, the Bog of Allen to the north and the Curragh race course to the east. The tourist office (May Mon-Fri 10am-1pm & 2-5.30pm; June-Sept Mon-Sat 10am-1pm & 2-5.30pm; tel 045/522696) is sited in the nineteenth-century Market House right in the middle of the main square. Accommodation is limited to a hotel, the Curragh Lodge , Dublin Street (tel 045/522144, fax 045/521247; GBP90-110/?114.28-139.67), and a handful of B&Bs - good central options include the comfortable Singleton's at 1 Dara Park, Station Road (tel 045/521964; GBP33-40/?41.90-50.79), and Fremont , Tully Road (tel 045/521604; GBP33-40/?41.90-50.79). For eating : Jimmy Bean's cafe on the square serves decent lunches and open sandwiches; Georgio's , a few doors down, serves moderately priced pizza and pasta, and the Silken Thomas does good bar food and has a restaurant alongside. The Silken Thomas takes its name from a member of the ruling Fitzgerald family, whom the growing powers of the Tudor monarchy provoked into rebellion in 1536, the uprising was unsuccessful, and a bloody massacre followed at Maynooth, later known, ironically, as "the pardon of Maynooth". In the square beside the cathedral, you'll find Nolan's , an old bar with cosy snugs; it hosts traditional music three or four nights a week.
Your Tip for Kildare town
Help other backpackers! Write your own guides and backpacking tips to Kildare town - they will appear instantly on this page - Please only write a tip/guide to Kildare town - visit the main Kildare town forum to ask a question!
Please do not post links to your site here (they won't work) - please use the Kildare town webguide section below! Thanks.
|
