Kildare is home to some of Ireland’s national treasures and while we are all eagerly awaiting the time when we can get out and explore the wonderful museums, visitor centre parks, parkland and gardens of Kildare again, we have to be patient and wait until the time is right and it’s safe to do so. For now, we can still enjoy a virtual tour and get an even closer experience with extra insider knowledge from the excellent staff keeping these visitor attractions up and running behind closed doors. Have a look below at some of the videos and links from Castletown House, The Irish National Stud and Newbridge Silver Visitor Centre, and tour Kildare online until you can see it in person again!
When it was built in the 1720s, Castletown set a radical precedent and it is an extraordinary part of our cultural inheritance. Now, as the OPW breathes contemporary life into Ireland’s earliest and finest Palladian house, it is trailblazing once more. As Castletown House is currently closed for tours, the excellent team have put together a wide range of videos and blogs to bring you even deeper into the lives of Katherine Conolly and Lady Louisa of Castletown House. With virtual tours of the ornate rooms, a discovery of the spectacular paintings, a peek into the book collection, visitors can stay up to date and enjoy glimpses from behind the scenes at Castletown.
*The Parklands are opening our pedestrian gates for access to the parklands from 10am- 6pm but they ask visitors to please respect social distancing and to adhere to responsible practice, we are all in this together.
Click here for the latest Blogs to learn about the House and Parklands. Click here to visit Castletown House Facebook page filled with Virtual tours. Take an Online Tour of The House. Take an Online Tour of The Parklands. Follow Castletown House & Parklands – @castletownhouse to get daily updates!
The Newbridge Silverware Visitor Centre is a contemporary shopper’s paradise, highly recommended on the tourist trail of Ireland’s Ancient East. The Visitor Centre houses the complete range of Newbridge Silverware products and incorporates the award-winning Café Carleton, the famous Museum of Style Icons and the unique guided Factory Tour. While the visitor centre is currently closed, we have together some videos to give you an insight into what you can see on a visit to Newbridge Silverware.
At the turn of the 20th century, the town of Newbridge, in the heart of Co. Kildare was a thriving garrison community. The cavalry barracks in Newbridge was the largest overseas base in the British Empire, housing over 3,000 troops…watch this video to hear about their story…
For over 80 years Newbridge Cutlery has been designing and crafting quality cutlery at its manufacturing facility in Ireland. Set up in 1934, the company quickly earned a reputation for design and craftsmanship and soon took pride of place in many homes. Today, craftsmen each with a lifetime’s experience continue to fashion the finest cutlery with the same skills and loving care. View here how Newbridge Silverware Cutlery is made.
The Museum of Style Icons features garments and interesting artifacts from several Hollywood stars, musicians, and celebrities. See a video here of a past Prince exhibit. An extraordinary collection of property from the life & career of Prince which was exhibited at the Museum of Style Icons from 16th March to the 10th May 2018. View video here…
For more see: www.newbridgesilverware.com or call (045) 431301.
The Irish National Stud belongs to the people of Ireland but prides itself on being enjoyed and appreciated by visitors from all parts of the globe. Nowhere better symbolises all that is great about County Kildare, the beating heart of Ireland’s thoroughbred industry, than the stud, a unique attraction of outstanding natural beauty that is home to some of the most magnificent horses and sumptuous gardens to be found anywhere in the world. For well over 100 years, the pride of Tully has been a working stud farm, its central objective being to produce for Ireland thoroughbreds capable of being crowned champions at home and abroad. In that aim it proved an instant hit with Minoru, one of the first star horses born and raised on the stud’s idyllic land, triumphing in horse racing’s most important contest, the Epsom Derby, way back in 1909.
We can now get up close and personal with the Living Legends and all the new foals that have been born this spring by following the Irish National Stud on Facebook to see their daily posts and videos.
Click here to get up close and personal with the beautiful foal below.
View more videos on Facebook – @IrishNationalStud Visit: irishnationalstud.ie