Dublin and the East
COUNTY KILDARE: PLACES OF
INTEREST Athy Heritage Centre
MUSEUM Located in the former 18th century market house, the Athy Heritage Centre-Museum traces the history of Athy, the Anglo Norman town on the Marches of Kildare.You can discover Athy’s history from its Anglo-Norman foundations to the involvement of men from Athy in World War I. Other highlights include Athy’s role in the 1798 Rebellion, and the impact of the Great Famine. You can learn more about the life and exploits of Antarctic explorer Sir Earnest Shackleton at Athy’s permanent exhibition of the man, who was born in nearby Kilkea. Interesting features include an audio-visual display that features original film footage from the Endurance expedition. Location: Town Hall, Emily Square, Athy Tel: +353 (0) 59 863 075
Ballitore Quaker Museum MUSEUM The Ballitore Library and Quaker Museum is housed in the restored Meeting House of the Society of Friends in Ballitore, County Kildare. Ballitore is a charming village founded by the Quakers in the 1700s. The Quakers who founded Ballitore were originally from Yorkshire, and used their agricultural knowledge to transform the valley here into rich fertile farmlands, and developed the town as a Quaker settlement. Ballitore is the only planned and permanent
St. Brigid of Kildare
Quaker settlement in Ireland. Interesting items include the letters and notebooks belonging to Mary Shackleton, and the door and lintel stone from the original Shackleton home at Harden in Yorkshire, built in 1660. Location: Ballitore, Co. Kildare Tel: +353 (0) 59 862 3344
Maynooth Castle MUSEUM This large stone castle dates back to the early 13th century and became the principal residence of the Kildare branch of the FitzGeralds, who became one of the most powerful families in Ireland, with Maynooth Castle becoming one of the largest and richest of the earl’s houses. The castle was remodelled early in the 17th century and again, commencing in February 2000, under a programme of State restoration. An exhibition in the keep contains information about the history of the castle and the FitzGerald family. Location: Maynooth, Co. Kildare Tel: +353 (0) 1 628 6744
Kildare Town Centre +353 (0) 45 522232
Easy access off Exit 13 on the M7.
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