Posts filed under 'Kildare'
St Patrick’s Day is celebrated all around the world. However, for many it is simply a party, rather than a chance to celebrate Ireland’s patron saint. This is strange, because Saint Patrick had a dramatic life.
As a young lad of sixteen years he was captured by a band of raiders near Bologne in Gaul and taken with many others to slavery in Ireland. He was first brought to Mayo, but later sold to an Antrim farmer and he spent six years in captivity as a shepherd on Slemish Mountain.
One cold winter’s night, while Patrick slept, he heard a voice telling him “it is well that you fast, soon you will go to your own country” and a short time later the voice said to him “Look, your ship is ready”.
The spirit guided Patrick to the south of Ireland near Wicklow where he boarded a ship with a cargo of dogs bound for Gaul.
At this time an invasion of Gaul had left much of it desolate. Patrick and the crew of the boat wandered for 28 days until all food had run out. Patrick said to the crew “turn to God and he will provide” and suddenly a herd of pigs appeared and they had food once more. Patrick had performed his first miracle.
For a number of years Patrick wandered through Gaul. Conscious of his lack of formal training in theology and law he spent his time talking to and learning from the wise deacons and Bishops and soon he was made a Bishop in Rome.
He was lonely in Gaul so he went to visit his relations in Britain. While he was there he had another vision in which a man arrived from Ireland with many letters, including one for himself. The letter said “We ask you boy to come and walk once more among us”. Patrick was delighted and went to Ireland immediately.
The people of Ireland at this time were pagans under the influence of the Druids. Patrick had first to rid the country of these “magicians”. This is symbolised by the banishing of the snakes forever from Ireland.
He now set about converting the people to Christianity. His deep faith and belief in the Blessed Trinity made this doctrine a centre piece of his instruction. To help explain the mystery he used the simple 3 leaf shamrock to illustrate 3 persons in one God.
St Patrick died in 461. By this time he had created an established structured church throughout the country. His converts were across the entire social classes from Princes to slaves and many of his priests and deacons were from the youth of Ireland. He is still to this day the most famous figure in Irish history and is one of the best known figures throughout the Christian world.
February 27th, 2008
Leinster are preparing for their Heineken Cup clash at Leicester on Saturday 19th of January.
While the Leicester side is strong, Leinster coach Michael Cheika is confident they will be able to get a result.
He said: “What we’ve got to do is go up there and make sure we keep sowing a bit of doubt in
their minds in their home base, where they don’t lose very often.
“We’ve got to make sure we continue to play well…and try to sneak a win up there.”
Leinster’s preparations were given a boost with the news that both injury worries Shane Horgan and Ollie le Roux have recovered enough to be included in the squad. They will face fitness tests oon Thursday, but are expected to be at near 100%.
The full squad to face Leicester is:
Forwards (15): Cian Healy, Ollie le Roux, Ronan McCormack, Brian Blaney, Bernard Jackman, Stephen Knoop, Stan Wright, Leo Cullen, Trevor Hogan, Cameron Jowitt, Malcolm O’Kelly, Stephen Keogh, Keith Gleeson, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip
Backs (12): Guy Easterby, Chris Keane, Felipe Contepomi, Jonathan Sexton, Luke Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney, Gordon D’Arcy, Christian Warner, Brian O’Driscoll, Gary Brown, Shane Horgan,
Girvan Dempsey
Ireland duo Gordon D’Arcy and Malcolm O’Kelly, need only three more appearances for Leinster to equal who both joined Reggie Corrigan’s record for the province.
Over 1,000 Leinster supporters are expected to travel to Leicester for the Heineken Cup match, which kicks off at 3.30PM at Welford Road.
January 16th, 2008
There’s a lot going on at Donnybrook, as Leinster prepare for the new season.
First, a new Rugby Development Officer has been named. Everyone at Leinster Rugby is delighted at the appointment of David McAllister.
The former Leinster and Ireland Under-21 out-half will be responsible for the North Midlands area. Hopes are high that his experience will help him unearth some exciting new talent.
But that’s not all. You can now sport the colours of your favourite team, as the new home jersey for the 2007/08 season is now available at the Leinster Rugby Store. Short sleeved jerseys are only €77, with long sleeved shirts costing €80.
The 2007/08 season looks to be a very exciting one for Leinster. Season ticket applications have almost doubled since last year. Priced at just €199, a new batch of Bronze season tickets has been released after the initial tickets were snapped up within weeks. Make sure you get yours quickly to avoid disappointment.
For devoted Leinster fans who can’t make it to all the home games, Leinster Supporters Memberships are available for next season.
Exile packages (€50) are designed for those Leinster fans all across the globe. The kids can join the Leinster Cubs for just €30.
Look out for more rugby news as the 2007/08 season approaches.
July 24th, 2007
The fifth section of the Royal Canal Way stretches from Enfield Bridge to Hill of down. This section is located in County Kildare in the Leinster province. This section is also easy to complete for most walkers and extends over a long distance of fifteen kilometres. There isn’t much climbing involved on this section. Walking at a normal pace, walkers should be able to complete this section of the walking trail in less than four and a half hours. The walking terrain of this route is comprised mostly of grassy bank and to a lesser extent, track and road. Those with a passion for angling will want to check out the fishing competitions at Enfield Harbour. Stretching from here to Moyvalley, walkers will be thrilled with the attractive line of trees that is unmatched in its beauty on the whole canal.
March 29th, 2007
The fourth section of the Royal Canal Way is located between McLoughlin Bridge and Enfield Bridge. This section is also located in County Kildare in the Leinster province. This is an easy walking route with little or no climbing to do. This section of the walking route requires the walkers to cover a distance of about nine kilometres. Three hours should be more than enough to complete this section of the Royal Canal Way. Walkers will have to pass through Cappa Bog on this walking route. There is a waterway here located between the 17th Lock and the Cloncurry Bridge. This waterway looks quite attractive thanks to the lining of trees along it. This walking route lies on the south bank of the canal. From Cloncurry bridge ahead, walkers will be walking along the canal for about a mile. After that, the road turns into a shaded area with trees and enters Enfield.
March 28th, 2007
The third section of the Royal Canal Way takes walkers on a short journey through the beautiful countryside of County Kildare in the Leinster province. This section starts from Maynooth Harbour and ends at McLoughlin Bridge. This is an easy walking route with very little climbing. Walkers will have to cover a distance of about ten kilometres on this section of the walking trail. Most walkers won’t need more than three hours to finish walking on this route. This section is located on the north side of the canal. Most of the walking surface on this section of the walking route consists of grassy track. The canal comes to a close after Chamber’s Lock. The innumerable trees here make it quite difficult to see Kilcock.
March 27th, 2007
The second section of the Royal Canal Way begins at Cope Bridge Leixlip Confey Station and ends at Maynooth Harbour. This section is located in County Kildare in the Leinster province. This is an easy walking trail with not a lot of climbing involved. This section stretches to a distance of seven and a half kilometres. Most walkers will be able to finish walking on this route in about two and a half hours. This track is located on the north side of the canal. The surface terrain of this walking trail consists of track and grassy bank. Carton House is located on this route. This house is known to be the former seat of the Dukes of Leinster. Tourists will be delighted to check out the rich culture and heritage evident in the architecture and artefacts of this house.
March 26th, 2007
Keadeen Hotel is a great hotel in Kildare County that provides quality four star accommodation with all the comforts and conveniences people have come to expect from world class hotels. This hotel has been welcoming guests for over thirty five years. The hotel is located just 30 minutes drive from Dublin. The hotel offers seventy five spacious and comfortable rooms with all the modern amenities like TV, tea/coffee making facilities etc. All of the rooms are en-suite. A swimming pool and fitness club allow the guests the freedom to stretch their body’s capabilities to the limits, thus maintaining perfect fitness to achieve that cool look. The hotel is located amidst acres of award winning gardens that provide a serene setting for some nice relaxing walking in the mornings and afternoons. Derby restaurant at the hotel has also won awards for its excellent customer service and perfectly conceived delightful cuisines. The drawing room lounge and bar provide ample opportunities to the guests to get to know one another and make friends from all over the world.
March 14th, 2007
The sixth section of the Barrow Way stretches from Maganey Bridge to Carlow. This section takes walkers on a trek through County Kildare in the Leinster Province. This is an easy walking route spread over a considerable distance of eight and a half kilometres and involves minimal effort since climbing is hardly a necessity on this route. Walkers shouldn’t need more than three hours to finish this route. The majority of this walking route consists of a grassy track. Meganey Bridge on this walking trail dates back to 1790. In Carlow town, walkers will be able to visit the site of Grange Castle. This castle was built on the banks of the Guilic River by the Normans in the 1180’s to fortify the river. Carlow is an excellent base for those interested in exploring the midlands. A good number of hotels, guesthouses and restaurants are present here. Those wishing for cheap but quality accommodations can find an independent hostel here.
March 14th, 2007
The fifth section of the Barrow Way takes walkers on a hike from Athy to Maganey Bridge. This section takes the walkers back to County Kildare in the Leinster Province. This route is graded as easy to walk due to the minimal climbing involved here. Walkers will need to cover a distance of about ten kilometres on this route. The estimated time required to complete this walking trail is approximately three and a half hours. Most of the walking terrain on this route is composed of grassy track. The lock gate at the 28th Lock must be crossed with the utmost care to avoid any unfortunate accidents. White’s Castle dating from 1506 is located beside the Athy Bridge. The thirteenth century Woodstock Castle is also located not far away from here. Walkers can visit a Celtic ring fort near the Tankardstown Bridge. After passing the railway bridge, walkers will find themselves on a path following the canal. There is an island here between the canal and the river. Thistle is abundant on this island. The canal is brimming with goldfinches and reed warblers. There is a bridge providing access to the island. While walking towards Levittstown Lock, walkers will enjoy the boreen where lots of young trees can be found by the canal side. Those interested in architecture will surely love the Meganey Bridge that is made from stone and features seven arches.
March 13th, 2007
The third section of the Barrow Way begins from Monasterevin and ends at Vicarstown. Like the previous section, this section is also located in County Kildare in the Leinster province. It’s an easy walking route where climbing is almost non existent. With a distance of twelve kilometres, this walking trail will need about four hours to complete it in its entirety. Most of the surface terrain on this route is covered by grass. The road portions of this track are pretty quiet. The grassy portion of this track begins after crossing Moore’s bridge. Walkers will appreciate leaving the din of the traffic behind and will truly revel in the quiet and serene atmosphere of this grassy path. This portion of the trail is adorned with various floras like daisies, mint and yarrow. Ash, willow and hazel trees are also fairly abundant here. Herons can be heard here from time to time. The ruins of the fortress of Dunamase can also be seen on this route.
March 9th, 2007
The second section of the Barrow Way starts from Rathangan and takes the walkers all the way to Monasterevin. This section is located in County Kildare in the Leinster province. It’s an easy route with minimal climbing. Walkers will have to cover a distance of about ten and a half kilometres on this walking trail. Walkers will need to set aside about three and a half hours out of their schedules to complete this route. The surface terrain of this route mostly consists of grassy track. While walking through Rathangan, walkers can expect to see many Georgian style houses. The fauna on this path consists abundantly of hawks, herons and hares. The towpath gradually gives way to a grassy path with long grass. There are many wildflowers to be found here. However, this path can get pretty wet. Walkers can expect to catch glimpses of Dunmurray Hill, Slieve Bloom Mountains and the cooling tower at Portarlington. Upon reaching Umeras Bridge, walkers will be greeted with views of the Ballythomas Hill and Kilteale Hill towards the southwest. Both of these are limestone hillocks.
March 8th, 2007
The Barrow Way is a walking trail stretching over a pretty long distance of 114km. This route is located between Robertsown and St. Mullins and comprises of ten sections. Each section is supposed to be completed in about half a day. The first section of this trail starts from Robertsown and ends at Rathangan. This section is located in County Kildare in the Leinster province. The distance to be covered on this route is pretty long at about fourteen kilometres but due to the almost non existent climbing involved here, this is classified as an easy section for walkers. About four and a half hours should be enough to finish walking this trail. The road portion of this walking section can be busy with traffic so caution is advised. Ballyteigue Castle can be found along this route. Many species of birds can be found along the canal side here. These include hawks, kingfishers and herons. When walkers reach very close to Rathangan, they will get to view the Hill of Allen towards the south. This hill is easily recognizable with a tower at its peak.
March 7th, 2007
Walkers will have to set off on a short journey by foot from Ticknevin to George’s Bridge in Edenderry for experiencing the fourth section of the Grand Canal Way. This section is located in County Kildare in the province of Leinster. This is an easy walking route with minimal amount of climbing. Walkers will have to walk over a distance of eight kilometres on this route. It shouldn’t take more than three hours on this route from start to finish. Most of the walking surface on this route is composed of peat. After crossing Ticknevin bridge, walkers will walk through complete wilderness and won’t see another house for almost seven kilometres. After reaching Ticknevin Lock, there is a grassy path along the canal where walkers will walk through gorse bushes and reeds. The coniferous forest here sees a lot of activity from wildlife during the summer and spring. Some of the animals found here include pheasants, foxes and ducks. The western end of the coniferous forest is the location for the ruins of Blundells Castle. A church tower and a water tower can also be seen here.
February 23rd, 2007
The third section of the Grand Canal Way is located between Robertsown and Ticknevin. This section is situated in County Kildare in the Leinster province of Ireland. This is an easy walking route with minimum climbing involved. This route is spread over a distance of twelve kilometres. It should take walkers about four hours to finish walking on this trail. On this track, walkers can expect to find both road and grassy path as the walking surface. Shee Bridge is quite notable as the only bridge on this walking trail that features an oblique arch. This bridge is locally referred to as the Scow Bridge. From Shee Bridge, walkers are advised to take extreme care while navigating the road as parts of it can be very busy. Walkers will come across a beautiful cottage at Lowtown Marina. After that, walkers will be treated to gorgeous views of the legendary Hill of Allen. The track ahead is mostly populated by grass and shrubs.
February 22nd, 2007
The second section of the Grand Canal Way is comprised of the route lying between Sallins and Robertsown. This section of the walking trail is situated in County Kildare in the Leinster province of Ireland. The difficulty of this route is graded to be easy. This section of the walking path is stretched over a distance of twelve kilometres. There is very little climbing involved on this path so it should not take walkers more than four hours to complete this route. Walkers may need to cross stiles on this route. Care should be exercises here because the timber can be slippery when wet. The quay or wharf in Sallins is a pleasant place adorned with flower beds. Once the walkers are past the Leinster Aqueduct, they will find that the canal introduces them to the freshness of open countryside. The Hill of Downings can be viewed at the 18th Lock while the hills of Kildare will attract the attention of the walkers on the 19th Lock. Landenstown House and Robertsown Hotel are places on this route that warrant a visit.
February 21st, 2007
A fine restaurant to reward your taste buds with in Kildare County is the Pickled Earl Restaurant. The brown bread made here has played an important part in spreading the fame of this popular restaurant. Seafood, homemade soup and steak are cooked here in interesting ways endowing them with unique tastes that the customers love to crave. Does prawn cocktail sound inviting? Is “smoked salmon salad and crab claws in garlic butter†the kind of food that makes your mouth water? Do you seriously fancy sinking your teeth in pan fried duck breast, wild Irish salmon or steak Diane? Does the mere mention of steak au poivre and fillet of beef start your stomach churning? If your reply to any of these questions is a resounding yes, you need to visit Pickled Earl Restaurant as quickly as possible to fulfil your fondest desires!
February 9th, 2007
Situated in the heart of Kildare, it’s hard to find a better place to stay than the Kilkea Castle Hotel. The castle is regarded as one of the finest in Ireland and houses an exceptional four star hotel. The hotel offers thirty six exquisitely decorated and comfortable rooms for its esteemed guests. All the rooms are spacious and en-suite with modern amenities like TV, hairdryer, air conditioning, ironing and tea/coffee making facilities. The hotel also provides a business centre and excellent conference facilities for business executives. De-Lacy’s restaurant at the hotel provides a fine and memorable dining experience with a unique blend of traditional and contemporary cuisine. Sauna, tennis court, 18-hole golf course, indoor pool and an exercise facility provide everything the guests need to maintain and enhance their body’s shape and fitness.
January 26th, 2007
Mother Hubbards in Kildare County was once the quiet kind of restaurant where half sleepy travellers and random folks would stop for a bacon sandwich. It happened that the restaurant got a new owner and under the new owner’s auspicious command, the restaurant was transformed into an amazingly busy place constantly overflowing with customers. What are the elements of success that were instrumental in launching this restaurant into superstardom? A simple answer is that they cater to all kinds of tastes guaranteeing that anyone who stops here will leave satisfied and happy. Fresh salmon and roast lamb are only two of the specialties of this amazingly successful restaurant. Soup, salad, steak with onions and chips and sweet delicacies like jelly and ice cream puddings, apple tart, apple crumble and sherry trifle have played a central role in attracting customers to this restaurant much in the same way honey attracts bees. In short, failing to visit this delightful restaurant is simply out of the question for the avid dining enthusiast.
December 18th, 2006
