Discover Celbridge: Castletown, history and walks

Parkland, history and paths along the Liffey

Celbridge in County Kildare brings together 18th-century parkland and the banks of the Liffey. At Castletown, the history of the house, landscaped grounds and riverside paths are at the heart of a visit. There are also walks through Celbridge and stories linking the town with well-known Irish figures. You can shape your stay around historic rooms, time outdoors or local history, depending on your interests.

Castletown House was built around 1722 for William Conolly, Speaker of the Irish House of Commons. Several renowned architects contributed to its design. The house contains a significant collection of paintings, furniture and works of art. Among its notable objects are three 18th-century Murano glass chandeliers. Castletown House also has the only fully preserved 18th-century print room in the country. Those interested in architecture and interiors will find several points of interest here, rather than having to focus their visit on a single artwork.

Castletown House is open seven days a week for guided tours. Outdoors, the landscaped grounds and 18th-century riverside paths offer a different way to explore Castletown: they are open daily year-round, and walking and exploring the grounds are free. A guided tour of the interior and a walk through the grounds therefore offer different experiences. You can plan your day according to whether you mainly want to see the rooms and collections or spend time on the paths.

Another way to discover Celbridge is the Celbridge Heritage Trail. It starts at Castletown House and leads from the early Christian site of Tea Lane through historic Celbridge Village to the grounds of Celbridge Abbey. A free downloadable audio guide is available for the trail. The route links places with different historical associations: from early Christian Tea Lane via Castletown to Celbridge Abbey, which is associated with Jonathan Swift. It offers a way to discover local history through a series of specific sites.

Celbridge’s guided walks also offer a range of themes. They are free, designed to be entertaining and informative, and open to all age groups. The tours are adapted to participants’ interests, ages and fitness levels. Depending on the walk, a tour lasts between one and three hours; the terrain is mostly flat. Walks are also conducted in Irish. This information can help you choose a tour based on your preferred duration, language and interests, without limiting your visit to just one way of exploring.

Celbridge is also connected to the history of Arthur Guinness. That story began in 1725 in the small village, where he spent most of his youth and learned his trade from his father. A life-size statue marks his birthplace in Celbridge; he also spent most of his childhood there. At Castletown, the Courtyard Café adds a culinary stop to your visit, serving speciality organic coffee and homemade cakes.

When choosing a holiday rental in Celbridge, you might consider which of these aspects you would like to shape your stay: a tour of Castletown House, free walks through the grounds and along the riverside paths, or the town’s history along the Heritage Trail. You can also plan your journey to Castletown using bus services. The C4 runs from Dublin city centre via the City Centre Quays to Celbridge Village; at stop 3907, the gates of Castletown are directly opposite. The W61 runs from Hazelhatch station to Main Street in Celbridge. There, too, the gates of Castletown are directly opposite stop 3907.

More places to discover: Leixlip, Athy, Maynooth, Kildangan, Carbury, Naas, Ballitore and Kilcullen.

For the wider travel guide: County Kildare.