- The Curragh of Kildare: A traditional love ballad about a heartbroken lover seeking their beloved on the Curragh, Kildare’s vast plain known for horse racing and military history. The song evokes the county’s open landscapes and themes of longing and unrequited love. Traditional, collected by Petrie and Joyce; popularised by The Johnstons and Christy Moore, who introduces the song as part of the Robbie Burns tradition, the contemporary version was assembled from various sources by Donal Lunny in the 1960s, including Burns.
- The Roads of Kildare: A romantic folk song about a love story between Johnny, a man from Clare, and Rosie, a Traveller girl raised on Kildare’s roads. Set on the road to Kilorglin, it celebrates Kildare’s Traveller community and themes of love defying social norms. Traditional; often performed by folk artists.
- Donnelly and Cooper: A historical ballad recounting the 1815 bare-knuckle boxing match between Dan Donnelly and George Cooper at Donnelly’s Hollow on the Curragh. It celebrates Kildare’s sporting heritage and local legend Dan Donnelly. Traditional.; part of Kildare’s folk tradition.
- Nora, the Pride of Kildare: A traditional love song praising Nora, a woman from Kildare, for her beauty and charm. It reflects the county’s rural communities and romantic folklore, often tied to local pride. Traditional; included in Kildare song collections.
- The Grave of Wolfe Tone: A republican lament commemorating Theobald Wolfe Tone, a founder of the United Irishmen, buried in Bodenstown, Kildare. The song reflects Kildare’s role in Ireland’s revolutionary history and annual commemorations at Tone’s grave. Traditional, often attributed to Thomas Davis; part of Kildare’s historical songs.
- The Old Bog Road: A nostalgic poem set to music, written by Teresa Brayton from Kilcock, Kildare, about an emigrant’s longing for their childhood home near a bog road. It captures Kildare’s rural landscapes and the emigrant experience. Written by Teresa Brayton (lyrics), set to music by Madeline King O’Farrelly.
- Shady Road to Clane: A folk song about the journey to Clane, a town in Kildare, evoking the county’s quiet rural roads and community life. It reflects local pride and the charm of Kildare’s smaller towns. Traditional, rediscovered red by Eoghan Corry in 1982 and noted in Kildare song collections.
- Pretty Susan: A traditional ballad about a young woman named Susan from Kildare, blending themes of love and adventure. It highlights the county’s storytelling tradition and rural settings. Traditional.; part of Kildare’s folk repertoire.
- Saint Brigid: A song honoring St. Brigid, Kildare’s patron saint, associated with the town of Kildare and its historic cathedral. It celebrates the county’s religious heritage and Brigid’s legacy. Traditional; tied to Kildare’s cultural tradition.
- Wake in Kildare: A traditional song about a lively wake in a Kildare community, reflecting the county’s social customs and humor surrounding death and mourning. It captures local storytelling and communal bonds. Traditional; included in Kildare song collections.
Songs
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 Anthem
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 –
