Horses, Stud Farms, Racing and more.

National Stud 6

The Horse and Racing

The horse is synonymous with Ireland and especially County Kildare which is known as the thoroughbred County.

Kildare contains, The Irish National Stud & Gardens, three racecourses, the Curragh Plains, RACE Academy and the Bloodstock Agency.

Mares & Foals in the Irish National Stud

The Irish National Stud

Founded in 1900 by Colonel Hall Walker who believed a horse’s birth date could determine its ability on the racetrack, the Stud quickly gained a prominence and prestige it maintains to this day. Horses born and bred here have won some of the world’s greatest races and thanks to the stud’s magnificent resident stallions not to mention support from the Government and the Irish people, its influence remains as great as ever.

 

Longines Irish Champions Weekend, Curragh, Kildare 11/9/2016 A view of Longines Irish Champions Weekend at the Curragh Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie

Curragh Racecourse

The name "Curragh" comes from the Gaelic word Cuirreach, meaning "place of the running horse". The first recorded race on the plain took place in 1727, but it was used for races before then. The first Irish Derby was held in 1866, and in 1868 the Curragh was officially declared a horse racing and training facility by act of parliament. It is still the premier racecourse of the Country and in 2015 it celebrated 150 years of the Derby. A new development will commence in 2017 which will transform the racecourse into a world class state of the art venue. Racing will continue at the Curragh during the development project.

Punchestown Festival 2015

Punchestown Racecourse

Punchestown racecourse is one of three located in Co. Kildare. Punchestown in the small parish of Eadestown is the home of Irish jump racing. The first meeting in 1868 was attended by one spectator while today, the annual Hunt Festival attracts thousands of racing enthusiasts from all over the world. The racecourse is a popular venue for many types of events along with horseracing such as music and exhibitions.

 

Naas Racecourse logo

Naas Racecourse

Naas Racecourse has long been associated with Irish Race hosting both flat and hunt.  It is unusual as it has a left handed run-up and up hill finish.  Naas Racecourse is within easy reach of Dublin and is a popular venue with race-goers from Kildare and elsewhere.  The racecourse hold many different events including family event days, music gigs and of course, racing throughout the year.

race-academy

Race Academy: Racing Academy & Centre of Education

Race Academy evolved over 40 years to a broad-based national academy for the horse racing industry. It has become an invaluable academy for training jockeys and now includes the Irish School of Farriery. RACE has had students from more than 25 countries who come to Ireland to learn horsemanship skills.

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Upcoming Events

  1. Collector Market Fair - Newbridge Town Hall

    July 9 @ 11:00 am - December 17 @ 4:30 pm
  2. Cill Dara Historical Society Monthly Talk

    October 4 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  3. Cill Dara Historical Society Monthly Talks : The Murder of Joseph Bergin

    November 8 @ 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Upcoming Events

Contact Info

Kildare Town Heritage Centre, Market Square, Kildare Town, Co. Kildare, Ireland.

Tel: +353 45 530 672
Mobile: +353 871900945
Email: info@kildareheritage.com

Opening Hours

(Lunch 01:00-02:00pm Daily)

Monday 09:30am - 05:00pm

Tuesday 09:30am - 05:00pm 

Wednesday 09:30am - 05:00pm

Thursday 09:30am - 05:00pm

Friday 09:30am - 05:00pm 

Saturday 09:30am - 05:00pm

Sunday Closed