Historic town

The National Monuments Service's description

On a low ridge at the W-edge of the Curragh. According to Bradley et al. (1986 vol. 3, 196-265), the name Kildare is derived from Cill Dara, ‘the church of the oak’, a tree which, according to the 7th century writer Cogitosus, stood beside St. Brigid’s early-6th century monastery (KD022-029002-). The Annals of Clonmacnoise record that in 1012, ‘all the Towen of Kildare was burnt by a thunderbolt but one house’, suggesting a secular, urban-type settlement had developed in association with the monastery. A borough was established at Kildare before 1176, and became the principal manor of Strongbow's Lordship in north Leinster, and the earliest fortification may have been a motte (KD022-029025-). By the end of the 13th century, Kildare contained a castle (KD022-029004-), a cathedral (KD022-029005-), and both Franciscan (KD022-029006-) and Carmelite friaries (KD022-029007-). A parliament was held there in 1309-10. In 1316, John Fitzthomas, newly created earl of Kildare, was granted the town and castle. Bradley et al (op. cit., 199) suggest a population of about 1,000 in the town in the early-14th century. In 1515, the town received a new charter, and a weekly market and burgesses were licensed to enclose the town with walls and a fosse (KD022-029009-). It was the scene of an engagement in 1598, during the Nine Years War, when it was so badly damaged that it was described by Fynes Moryson (1907, ii, 351) as, ‘altogether disinhabited’. The cathedral was ruined and roofless in 1604, and a number of properties were described in 1607 as ‘ruinous’ or ‘lately burned’. However, the town recovered to become an important garrison site during the Confederate War of 1641-53. Around 1659, the Census of Ireland noted a population of 359 (Pender 1939, 395). (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 320; Orpen 1911-20, 374-381; Gilbert 1884, ii, 339)

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy

Date of upload: 19 January 2012