Things to Do

Celbridge is steeped in history. It is the birthplace of Arthur Guinness and also housed the first Guinness brewery before it moved to Leixlip and finally to its eternal home, St. James' Gate in Dublin's Liberties. As mentioned above, Celbridge is also home to one of the best and most magnificent examples of a Palladian mansion in Ireland. A very popular tourist destination, we highly recommend a visit to Castletown House. 

 

Kildare is known as 'the thoroughbred county'. This is due, in no small way, to the fact that the county is home to the Irish National Stud (and Japanese Gardens) at the Curragh. Ireland is one of the most successful horse-breeding countries in the world and here you can tour the stud and observe the remarkable journey from conception to champion. Visitors can also go to the Horse Museum, where the sport of kings is brought to life. Also, and welll worth a visit, is the Japanese gardens, which are said to be the best in Europe.

The heritage town of Celbridge is located in the thoroughbred county of Kildare and is only a short distance from Dublin's city centre. The name Celbridge comes from the Irish words Cill Droicid meaning the church of the bridge.

Castletown House, Ireland’s finest Palladian country house is an imposing building established in the town in the year 1722 by Speaker William Connolly, who later went on to commission a school to be built in the town. The school we speak of is now Celbridge Manor Hotel and it is where we derive the name for our traditional Irish bar, The Schoolhouse!

The hotel is conveniently located 30 minutes from Dublin's city centre, where there are numerous attractions for all of the family. 

 

• Kildare Village
• Kildare Maze
• Straffan Antique and Design Centre