County Kildare’s sporting history is a rich blend of Gaelic games, horse racing, soccer, rugby, and more, with clubs, facilities, and personalities shaping a proud tradition. Known as the Thoroughbred County, Kildare’s athletic achievements reflect its deep commitment to competition.
Gaelic Games: The Heart of Kildare
Kildare GAA oversees 72 clubs, with Gaelic Football and hurling central to the county’s identity. St Conleth’s Park in Newbridge, opened in 1941, serves as the primary venue. The Kildare senior football team won four All-Ireland Senior Football Championships (1905, 1919, 1927, 1928) and 13 Leinster Senior Football Championships, with victories from 1903 to 2000.
The county also secured the National Football League Division 2 title in 2017. Naas leads club football with 10 Kildare Senior Football Championships, while Sarsfields has nine, including a Leinster Senior Club Football Championship in 2005. Celbridge won four county titles, and Moorefield claimed seven, including 2018.
In hurling, Kildare won six All-Ireland Senior B Championships (1974, 1989, 1990, 1998, 2004, 2014) and the 2014 Christy Ring Cup. Naas dominates club hurling with 10 Kildare Senior Hurling Championships, followed by Coill Dubh with eight. Ardclough won 13 county hurling titles and reached the 1976 Leinster Senior Club Hurling Championship final. Camogie and ladies’ football thrive, with Kildare’s ladies’ team winning the 2016 All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies’ Football Championship. Standout figures include:
- Johnny Doyle (Allenwood): Often cited as one of Kildare’s greatest, holding records for appearances and scoring.
- Glenn Ryan (Round Towers): Legendary captain of the 1990s and a two-time All-Star (1997, 1998).
- Dermot Earley Jnr (Sarsfields): All-Star midfielder (1998, 2009) and one of the best midfielders of his generation.
- Anthony Rainbow (Sarsfields): Reliable wing-back, earning an All-Star in 2000 and playing for many years.
- Niall Buckley (Sarsfields): Midfield partner to Ryan/Earley, earned an All-Star in 1997.
- Brian Lacey (Round Towers): Corner-back who was pivotal in the 1998 Leinster win, earning an All-Star.
- Martin Lynch (Clane): 1991 All-Star winner.
- Peter Kelly (Two Mile House): Solid defender who earned an All-Star in 2010.
- Larry Stanley (Carbury): A legendary figure from an earlier era, widely regarded as a titan of the game.
- Michael Foley (Athy): Full-back, 2011 All-Star nominee and reliable stalwart of the modern era.
Soccer: Gathering momentum
Kildare’s soccer scene is led by clubs like Naas United and Newbridge Town, competing in the Leinster Senior League and Kildare & District Soccer League. Athy Town won the 2019 Leinster Junior Shield. The Kildare County football Association supports grassroots efforts, with venues like Leixlip Amenities Centre hosting matches.
Rugby: Community Roots
Although Kildare has no senior rugby clubs Clongowes and Newbridge College, who both fielded hurling teams in the early days of the GAA are perennial contendors for the Leinster schools senior cup. North Kildare was founded by Louis Magee, iconic captain of the 1899 triple up winning team. North Kildare players Bob Casey, Devin Toner and Will Connors went on to play for Ireland. Jack Guiney from Celbridge played for Leinster in the 1940s and Trevor Brennan became Kildare’s first international in modern times in 1998. Kildare’s most prominent current rugby players are Tadhg Beirne, Jamie Osborne, and Cian and Sam Prendergast.
Naas RFC, founded in 1922 and based at Forenaughts, won the Leinster League Division 1A in 2018 and the 2022 Provincial Towns Cup. Newbridge RFC, at Rosetown, claimed the 2019 Leinster League Division 2A title. Cill Dara RFC, based in Kilcullen, competes in the Leinster League.
Horse Racing and Other Sports
Kildare, Ireland’s horse racing hub, boasts three major racecourses: Punchestown, Naas, and the Curragh, home to the Irish Derby since 1866. Punchestown won the 2018 Racecourse of the Year award, and the Curragh hosted five Irish Classics annually. Dermot Weld (based at The Curragh, Co. Kildare) famously trained the 2016 English Derby winner Harzand, which also won the Irish Derby that year. He trained Vintage Crop to become the first Irish winner fo the Melbourne Cup in 1993.
Ruby Walsh, a 12-time Irish champion jockey, and his father Ted Walsh, a trainer and former jockey, are iconic figures, as trainer and jockey, they were winners of the Aintree Grand National in 2000 with Papillon.. Golf thrives at courses like Carton House and the K Club, which hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup. Athletics is strong through clubs like St Coca’s AC, while boxing and cycling benefit from facilities like Naas Sports Centre.
A silver Olympic medal was won by Christopher Barton from Straffan (Men’s eight rowing, London 1948) and a bronze by Cian O’Connor, based at Kilcullen, in the Individual jumping show jumping, London 2012. Cian O’Connor won a gold in the Individual show jumping, at Athens 2004 but lost his gold medal due to positive doping test on horse.
Willoughby Hamilton (Men’s Singles) from Monasterevin, known as “The Ghost,” was the first Irish man to win the Wimbledon singles title,
Facilities and Community
St Conleth’s Park anchors Gaelic games, complemented by local grounds like Hawkfield, Kildare GAA’s training centre. Leixlip Amenities Centre and Naas Sports Centre support soccer, rugby, and community sports. The county’s racecourses and golf clubs draw athletes and spectators, while the Kildare Sports Partnership fosters grassroots participation.
A Lasting LegacyKildare’s sporting culture shines through clubs like Naas GAA, Sarsfields, and Naas RFC, supported by venues like St Conleth’s Park and the Curragh.
Sports in the 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
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.
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