Athy Attractions
Athy (Baile Atha h-I, "Ford of Ae"), the largest town in Kildare county, lies southwest of Dublin on the River Barrow, at a ford which was an important crossing-place and at the junction of two roads, the N78 and the R417. A branch of the Grand Canal joins into the Barrow here.
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Moone - High Cross
Beside the ruins of a 13th C church is the High Cross, standing 5 m in height and featuring incredible low reliefs.
Ballitore - Quaker Museum, Ireland
(Near Athy)
Five mi/eight km east of the Motte of Ardskull near Athy lies Ballitore, once a flourishing Quaker settlement with a celebrated school. The Quaker Meeting House now houses a bookshop and a small museum. Another attraction is the Crookstown Historical and Heritage Center, set up in a mill dating from the mid-19th C. which has been restored and has a mill-wheel that still operates. Numerous exhibits document corn-grinding and bread-making in past centuries.
Hours
June 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 18:00 |
October 1 to May 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | Closed |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Court and Market House
Athy's old Court and Market House, a fine Georgian building, is now the fire station.
Dominican Church
Downstream from White's Castle in Athy stands the Dominican church (by John Thompson, 1963-65), on a pentagonal plan, with an ingenious spherically vaulted roof structure. It contains a number of notable works of art, including fine stained glass and Stations of the Cross by George Campbell.
Motte of Ardskull
4.5mi/7km northeast of Athy, on the N78, is the Motte of Ardskull, a 30ft/9m high circular earthwork of the 12th C.
White's Castle
White's Castle in Athy, built by the Earl of Kildare in the 16th C. to protect the Barrow, is a massive rectangular structure with turrets at the corners. The bridge has the unusual name of Crom-a-boo, from the war-cry of the Desmonds - an Earl of Desmond was English Governor about 1420.
Woodstock Castle
Woodstock Castle (13th C.) is 800m/0.5mi north of Athy on the L18. It was built to defend the river crossing and suffered severe damage in 1649.
