Discover Kildare: St. Brigid and the town’s history

Kildare brings together the town’s history, St. Brigid, medieval buildings and a Heritage Trail through the town. When planning your trip, you can choose between religious and architectural history, an overview of historic sites, and multimedia insights into the past and present. The Japanese Gardens at the Irish National Stud complement these themes with symbolic garden design.

Town history at the Heritage Centre

Kildare Town Heritage Centre is housed in a restored 17th-century market house. Its multimedia exhibition explores Kildare’s past and present. The Heritage Centre is also home to Legends of Kildare, a virtual reality experience. The exhibition and VR experience offer two different ways to explore the town in one place. Kildare Town Heritage Centre is also an official Fáilte Ireland tourist information office.

St. Brigid and architectural history

St. Brigid’s Cathedral stands on the site where St. Brigid founded a nunnery in the 5th century. Its Gothic architecture reflects its dual purpose as a defensive structure and a place of religious worship. Features of the cathedral include a 16th-century vault, early Christian and Norman stonework, and a high cross. The combination of these forms reveals several religious and architectural periods in the same building.

North of the cathedral lie the restored foundations of St. Brigid’s Fire Temple. Every year on 1 February, a small fire is lit there to celebrate St. Brigid’s feast day. The roof of the historic round tower offers sweeping views of the surrounding area; access is seasonal, so check before travelling.

Historic sites along the Heritage Trail

The Kildare Town Heritage Trail includes St. Brigid’s Monastic Site, a Norman castle, three medieval abbeys and Ireland’s first Turf Club. A free downloadable audio guide and an audiovisual guide lead visitors around the town. The trail thus connects a range of historic sites, while the accompanying media offer additional guidance along the way. Check before travelling to see whether the guides are available.

Gardens and a guided tour nearby

The Japanese Gardens at the Irish National Stud are close to Kildare Town and were laid out between 1906 and 1910. Trees, plants, flowers, lawns, rocks and water symbolise the “life of man.” Unlike the town’s buildings and historic sites, the landscape elements here convey the meaning of the design.

The Irish National Stud also offers a free guided tour close to Kildare Town Heritage Centre. It is included in the admission price and takes place at regular intervals during the day; check tour availability and times before travelling.

Each experience has a different focus: the Heritage Trail connects several sites across the town, while the Heritage Centre brings together an exhibition about the past and present and a virtual reality experience. When planning your stay, consider whether you are most interested in historic sites, architectural history or a more curated interpretation.

Discover more destinations: Kilcullen, Clane, Moone, Moyvally, Straffan, Ballitore, Maynooth, Celbridge

For the main travel overview: County Kildare.