- Molly Keane (1904–1996): Born in Skrine (also spelled Skreen), near Ballyrankin, Co. Kildare. A novelist and playwright, Keane wrote under the pseudonym M.J. Farrell for much of her career. Her novels, including Good Behaviour (1981), which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, satirize the Anglo-Irish “Big House” lifestyle. Other notable works include Devoted Ladies (1934) and Time After Time (1983). Her Kildare upbringing in a wealthy family shaped her sharp social commentary.
- Emily Lawless (1845–1913): Born in Lyons House, near Ardclough, Co. Kildare. A novelist, historian, and poet, Lawless is known for her novels Hurrish (1886) and Grania: The Story of an Island (1892), which depict Irish peasant life and Anglo-Irish tensions. A unionist with sympathy for nationalist themes, her works, including her “Wild Geese” poems, were influential in nationalist circles.
- Aidan Higgins (1927–2015): Born in Celbridge, Co. Kildare. A novelist and short-story writer, Higgins is known for his experimental “Big House” novel Langrishe, Go Down (1966), which won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and was adapted into a BBC film. Other works include Balcony of Europe (1972) and Bornholm Night-Ferry (1983). His modernist style, influenced by Joyce and Beckett, is noted in dib.ie and en.wikipedia.org (). While critically acclaimed, he was not shortlisted for the Booker Prize, limiting his inclusion in a broader context, but his Kildare birth makes him relevant here.
- Cauvery Madhavan (born in India, exact birth year not publicly specified; active since the 1990s/2000s): Indian-born novelist who moved to Ireland in 1987 (arriving on Valentine’s Day) and has lived there ever since, now residing in County Kildare with her husband and three children. She previously worked as a copywriter in Chennai (Madras), India. Her fiction often explores themes of identity, migration, Irish-Indian connections, and history, including novels such as Paddy Indian, The Uncoupling, The Tainted (drawing on the 1920 Connaught Rangers mutiny), and The Inheritance. She also contributes opinion pieces to Irish media like The Irish Times.
- Caroline Finnerty (born November 6, 1980): Irish author of emotional, family-focused women’s fiction and domestic dramas, often described as heartfelt “tear-jerkers” dealing with themes like relationships, illness, motherhood, and loss. Her novels include In a Moment (her debut, runner-up in Poolbeg’s Write a Bestseller Competition), The Last Goodbye, Into the Night, and My Sister’s Child. A native of Celbridge (educated at St Wolstan’s in Celbridge), she lives in County Kildare(including the village of Ardclough) with her husband, four children, and dog. She is also a freelance journalist.
- Peter Cunningham (born 1947): Acclaimed Irish novelist known for historical fiction, family sagas, and literary works set in Ireland, often exploring 20th-century Irish history, society, and personal tragedy. Notable series include the “Monument” books (e.g., The Sea and the Silence), and other titles like Ascent. He has also written thrillers under pseudonyms such as Peter Lauder. Born in Dublin, he grew up partly in Waterford and was educated at University College Dublin. After a career in journalism and public relations, he turned to full-time writing. He lives in County Kildare, where he has been based for many years.
Novelists
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
Poets
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
Writers
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
County Kildare:
Ireland’s county 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.
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 – Hotels top 8 – Hunting & shooting – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Music – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Songs – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
