Naas Attractions
Naas (Nas na Ri, "Assembly Place of the Kings"), county town of Kildare county, lies 21mi/34km southwest of Dublin on the N7.
In early times Naas was the seat of the kings of Leinster, whose palace was on the North Mote, to the north of the town. The settlement was fortified by the Normans, and remains of one of their castles are incorporated in the Church of Ireland rectory. Naas was plundered in 1315 by Robert and Edward Bruce. It is now a thriving industrial town on the edge of the Curragh Plain, celebrated as a horse breeding area. 2.5mi/4km south on the R411 is Punchestown Racecourse, which is famous for its steeplechases.
In early times Naas was the seat of the kings of Leinster, whose palace was on the North Mote, to the north of the town. The settlement was fortified by the Normans, and remains of one of their castles are incorporated in the Church of Ireland rectory. Naas was plundered in 1315 by Robert and Edward Bruce. It is now a thriving industrial town on the edge of the Curragh Plain, celebrated as a horse breeding area. 2.5mi/4km south on the R411 is Punchestown Racecourse, which is famous for its steeplechases.
Naas Surroundings
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Castletown House
This 18th C mansion was built by architect Alessandro Galilei for William Connolly, an Irish parliamentarian. Today it is operated by the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht.
Carbury, Ireland
From Maynooth the N4 and T41 runs west to Johnstown, with a large 19th C. mansion, and Carbury, with the extensive remains, commandingly situated on a hill, of Carbury Castle (14th-16th C.), an imposing pile with its pointed gables, chimneys and towers. 0.75mile/1km north, also on a hill, can be seen the remains of Carrick Castle (14th C.) and a 13th C. church.
Celbridge, Ireland
Southwest of Leixlip, on the Liffey, we come to Celbridge, upstream from which is Castletown House.
Clane, Ireland
7mi/11km north of Naas lies Clane, with a Jesuit school, Clongowes Wood College, opened in 1814. The old chapel is a good example of neo-classical architecture; the new one has fine stained glass by Evie Hone and Michael Healy.
Kilteel, Ireland
Northeast of Naas is Kilteel, with the ruins of a fine Romanesque church and a castle (National Monument). The church (12th C.) has a richly decorated chancel arch, with figures of Adam and Eve, David and Goliath, Samson with the lion, an acrobat, a man with a drinking horn and an abbot with his crosier.
Punchestown
3mi/5km southeast of Naas we come to Punchestown. Near the racecourse, on the Woolpack Road (the medieval road from Dublin to Kilkenny), stands the Long Stone of Punchestown (National Monument), a huge tapering granite monolith 23ft/7m high. When it was re-erected after collapsing in 1931 a Bronze Age burial place was discovered at the foot of the stone.
Robertstown, Ireland
9mi/15km northwest of Naas the R409 reaches Robertstown. Here, at the highest point on the Grand Canal is the old Canal Hotel, built in 1801 for passengers on the canal. The canal frontages of the village and the hotel have been restored to their early 19th C. appearance.
Facilities
On-site accomodations
Straffan, Ireland
Straffan, 4mi/6km southwest of Celbridge, boasts a railroad museum with a collection of rare models.
The Straffan Butterfly Farm is Ireland's first live Tropical Exhibit, an indoor display of butterflies and plants.
The Straffan Butterfly Farm is Ireland's first live Tropical Exhibit, an indoor display of butterflies and plants.
Hours
June 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 11:30 | 11:30 | 11:30 | 11:30 | 11:30 | 11:30 | 11:30 |
| Close | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 |
