Kildare

Kildare Cill Dara
Location
Coordinates: 53°09′25″N 6°54′32″W / 53.156859°N 6.909027°W / 53.156859; -6.909027Coordinates: 53°09′25″N 6°54′32″W / 53.156859°N 6.909027°W / 53.156859; -6.909027
Irish grid reference N726124
Statistics
Province:	Leinster
County:	County Kildare
Elevation:	116 m (380 ft)
Population (2006)	7,538

Kildare Cathedral

Round Tower Kildare

Kildare (Cill Dara in modern Irish, originally derived from Cell Dara in Old Irish, meaning "Church of the Oak") is a town in County Kildare, Ireland. Its population of 7,538 (2006 Census^[3]) makes it the seventh largest town in Kildare and the 55th largest in the Republic of Ireland, with a growth rate of 32.4pc since the 2002 census. Although Kildare gives its name to the county, Naas is the county town. The town lies on the R445, some 50 km west of Dublin – near enough for it to have become, despite being a regional centre in its own right, a commuter town for the capital.

History

See also History of County Kildare

In pre-Christian times Kildare was the site of a shrine to the Celtic goddess Brigid. Following the introduction of Christianity in the 5th and 6th centuries it became the foundation of the Christian Saint Brigid who founded a unique monastery of monks and nuns on the site of the present cathedral.

The birth of Motor racing

On Thursday, 2 July 1903 the Gordon Bennett Cup ran through Kildare. It was the the first international motor race to be held in Great Britain, an honorific to Selwyn Edge who had won the 1902 event in Paris driving a Napier. The Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland wanted the race to be hosted in the British Isles, and their secretary, Claude Johnson, suggested Ireland as the venue because racing was illegal on British public roads roads. The editor of the Dublin Motor News, Richard Mecredy, suggested an area in County Kildare, and letters were sent to 102 Irish MPs, 90 Irish peers, 300 newspapers, 34 chairmen of county and local councils, 34 County secretaries, 26 mayors, 41 railway companies, 460 hoteliers, 13 PPs, plus the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Patrick Foley, who pronounced himself in favour. Local laws had to be adjusted, ergo the 'Light Locomotives (Ireland) Bill' was passed on 27 March 1903. Kildare and other local councils drew attention to their areas, whilst Queen’s County declared That every facility will be given and the roads placed at the disposal of motorists during the proposed race. Eventually Kildare was chosen, partly on the grounds that the straightness of the roads would be a safety benefit. As a compliment to Ireland the British team chose to race in Shamrock green^[b] which thus became known as British racing green, although the winning Napier of 1902 had been painted Olive green.^[4][5][6][7]

The route consisted of two loops that comprised a figure of eight, the first was a 52 mile loop that included Kilcullen, The Curragh, Kildare, Monasterevin, Stradbally, Athy, followed by a 40 mile loop through Castledermot, Carlow, and Athy again. The race started at the Ballyshannon cross-roads (53°05′07″N 6°49′12″W / 53.0853°N 6.82°W / 53.0853; -6.82) near Calverstown on the contemporary N78 heading north, then followed the N9 north; the N7 west; the N80 south; the N78 north again; the N9 south; the N80 north; the N78 north again. Competitors were started at seven minute intervals and had to follow bicycles through the 'control zones' in each town. The 328 miles (528 km) race was won by the famous Belgian Camille Jenatzy, driving a Mercedes in German colours.^[8][5]

Places of interest

Kildare is home to the Irish National Stud, the Japanese Gardens and St. Fiachra's Garden. Much of the surrounding countryside in County Kildare is used for horse breeding. The Curragh racecourse is not far from Kildare town. The picturesque Woodstock Estate is located 15 km southeast of Kildare.

The Japanese Garden

St. Fiachra's Garden

People

• Alan Dukes: Former leader of Fine Gael and Irish government minister
• Bláthnaid McKenna: Miss Ireland 2007
• Damien Leith: Winner of Australian Idol 2006.
• Timmy Murphy: Winner of the 2008 Grand National.
• Ray D'Arcy : TV presenter and radio host.
• Charles Ancliffe : Composer

Politics

Kildare Town lies in the Kildare South Dáil constituency and the Kildare Local Electoral Area of Kildare County Council.

Sports Clubs

• 62 Reserve Artillery Regiment, Curragh, 2 Eastern Reserve Brigade
• Round Towers GAA, Gaelic Athletic Association
• Cill Dara RFC, Rugby Union
• Kildare Dragons, Rugby League
• Kildare Town A.F.C.
• Kildare County F.C.

See also

• List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Kildare)
• List of towns and villages in Ireland
• Market Houses in Ireland

Notes

References

External links

• Kildare town
• Kildare Toastmasters
• Kildare railway station
• Kildare town history
• The Irish National Stud
• The Irish National Stud - Japanese Gardens
• kildare.ie