These are the top three places in the annual tidy towns competition in Ireland’s county Kildare
- 1st Place: Naas – The bustling county town successfully blends its rich racing heritage with modern vibrancy. Visitors are drawn to its historic canal harbour, the scenic Grand Canal Way for walks and cycles, and its excellent selection of shops and restaurants, all serving as a gateway to the famed Curragh and Irish National Stud.
- 2nd Place: Kill – A charming village that serves as a peaceful residential hub while offering easy access to Dublin and the Wicklow Mountains. Its quiet, tree-lined streets and well-kept appearance are highlights, with the nearby Punchestown Racecourse and historic Palmerstown House providing significant visitor attractions.
- 3rd Place: Straffan – An affluent village synonymous with world-class golf at the K Club, but also offering the delightful Straffan Steam Museum and the charming antique Heywood Gardens. Its location on the River Liffey makes it a picturesque spot for leisurely walks and fine dining in a relaxed setting.
The 2025 Irish Restaurant Award winners for county Kildare
- Overall: Alumni Kitchen, Feighcullen.
- Café: Sweet Maria
- Casual Dining: Lock 13 Gastropub & Brewpub
- Chef: Adam Nevin, The Morrison Room at Carton House
- Contemporary Irish Cuisine: Dubh, Newbridge
- Customer Service: Lawlor’s of Naas
- Employee Excellence Award: Caitriona McGrath, The Ballymore Inn
- Gastro Pub: Town Leixlip
- Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant: The Morrison Room at Carton House
- Innovator: The Dew Drop Inn & Brewhouse
- Local Food Hero: Ryan Lally of Grá Pizza
- Newcomer: Mani in Pasta Newbridge
- Pub: McDonnells Bar and Beer Garden
- Restaurant Manager: William Wong, Saba
- Sustainable Practices: The K Club
- Use of Social Media: Neighbourhood Naas
- Wine Experience: Ely Wine Store
- World Cuisine: Picaderos
Awards
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Restaurant awards
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Kildare:
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles– Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels8 – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Musicians – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Spas – Sports – Sunsets– Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
Kildare blends historic sites with lush countryside, with the National Stud and Japanese Gardens offering a unique mix of equine heritage and serene landscapes. Castletown House, a grand Palladian mansion, provides historical insights, while the Curragh’s open plains are ideal for walking. The ancient Hill of Allen adds archaeological depth, making Kildare an engaging stop for culture and nature. The new Shackleton Experience has opened in Athy. Kildare is Ireland’s eighth smallest county by size (1,694 square km) and seventh largest by population (247,774). Population reached its lowest point, 57,892 in 1936. In terms of hospitality, Kildare is Ireland’s 15th most visited tourist county with around 168,000 international visitors per year.
2025 Irish Restaurant awards by county:
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
