KILDARE
The rich open grasslands of County Kildare serve as the core of the Irish
horse breeding and horse racing industries. The National Stud heads a profusion
of smaller stud farms dispersed through the countryside, a rich source of
bloodstock that compete on the racecourses of Kildare and beyond. Three world
renowned tracks are situated at Punchestown, Naas and The Curragh , where
the annual Irish Derby takes place. The fertile plains of Kildare also serve
as a fine basis for a rich garden heritage. Visit the famous Japanese Gardens
laid out in 1910. Considered among the finest in Europe, they hold an array
of exotic plants, a miniature Japanese village and traditional tea house.
A Peatland Interpretative Centre , Castletown house, many other fine houses
and gardens and a forest park provide a natural retreat, just a stone's throw
from Dublin. Take in angling and cruising along the canals and venture forth
into Ireland's inland waterways.