Maynooth
Encyclopedia
Maynooth is a town in north County Kildare
, Ireland
. It is home to a branch of the National University of Ireland
, a Papal University and Ireland's main Roman Catholic seminary, St. Patrick's College. Maynooth is also the seat of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference and holds the headquarters of Ireland's largest development charity, Trocaire
.
between Leixlip
and Kilcock
25Km West of Dublin City, with the M4 motorway bypassing the town. Other roads connect the town to Celbridge
, Clane
, and Dunboyne
. Maynooth is also on the Dublin to Sligo rail line and is served by a commuter train service.
.
In the 1920s, the town was the unofficial home to the King of England's representative in Ireland, Domhnall Ua Buachalla, who declined to take up official residence in the Viceregal Lodge in the Phoenix Park
, and whose family operated a hardware store in the town until 2005, the only store with an Irish language
name in the town for many years.
and Carton House
: two former seats of the Dukes of Leinster. The castle was a stronghold of the 16th century historical figure Thomas FitzGerald, 10th Earl of Kildare
better known as Silken Thomas. The castle was overrun in 1535, after the rebellion of the Earl.
The village is just inside the western edge of The Pale
.
The most important historical buildings in the town are those of St. Patrick's College and some of which antedate the foundation of the college, while others are in the late Georgian and neo-Gothic revival style. The "new range" of buildings was erected by A.W.N. Pugin in 1850 under a commission from then college president Laurence F. Renehan
, while the College Chapel was designed and completed by James Joseph McCarthy during the presidency of Dr. Robert Browne in 1894.
The famed Conolly's Folly
is also near the town, although it is arguably in Celbridge
, as it is much closer to it, but is covered by Maynooth's very extensive town boundaries. It was known to be the gateway to the west as the main route from Dublin.
. Measurement can be difficult as much of the village's population is transient – students at NUI Maynooth or St. Patrick's College
, or temporary employees at the nearby Intel and Hewlett Packard facilities (both located in Leixlip
).
Two third-level educational institutions--St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, founded under King George III in 1795 to educate Ireland's Roman Catholics, and the National University of Ireland, Maynooth
, separated from St. Patrick's College in 1997—are located in the town. They share campus space and many facilities. NUI Maynooth is the only university
in the Republic of Ireland not situated in a city.
There is one secondary school (Maynooth Post Primary), and four primary schools, a girls' school, a boys' school, an Educate Together
school, and an Irish-speaking school.
station, a health centre, a branch library, a Credit Union
and was formerly home to the worlds 4th largest hamster wheel. In the mid-1980s the town gained some minor fame for having the first callcard phones in Ireland.
and other service centre for North Kildare and South Meath
, with branches of SuperValu
, Tesco Ireland
, Aldi
and Lidl
, as well as a wide variety of non-chain stores. In October 2005, Dunnes Stores
opened a major shopping centre
off the town's main street, Manor Mills. This centre contains a number of other high street names, such as Easons, Elvery's Sports and a Halifax branch. Tesco
is open 24 hours, Dunnes Stores
also formerly did so. On 18 January 2007 Tesco Ireland announced plans to demolish its existing store in Maynooth (the same store having been demolished and rebuilt only seven years previously) and build a larger shopping centre, anchored by a Tesco Extra store, on a neighbouring site. The new centre is known as Carton Park, after nearby Carton House
. The Tesco Extra portion of the new shopping centre opened on 3 November 2008, with Heatons
, Sports World
, Next Children and Boots
. A number of shops that formed part of the former Maynooth Shopping Centre remain open on the old site.
Maynooth is on the Royal Canal, navigable from central Dublin to this point, now used mostly for leisure purposes. It provided an important stopping point before Dublin in the period directly before the coming of the railways to Ireland in the first half of the 19th century. The harbour, known locally as Dukes Harbour is roughly triangular in shape and on the north side of the canal, opposite the railway station is a popular fishing area.
Maynooth station
is one of the busiest in the Dublin / Kildare region, serving as it does two major educational institutions. The town is the terminus of most Iarnród Éireann
Western Commuter, as well as a being served by the Sligo InterCity
service. Dublin Bus
and Bus Éireann services also serve the town. A number of private operators also serve the town, linking it with nearby towns and cities.
road.
Maynooth Native Bob Casey
is a professional rugby player and Ireland international. Casey has represented Ireland at Schools, U19, U21, Ireland 'A' and U25 levels. He made his senior debut against Australia in 1999.
Casey has six caps for Ireland. When he played for Ireland against Canada in May 2009, it was his first cap since 2000.
He Currently Plays for London Irish.
He has also played for the Barbarians.
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is home to a branch of the National University of Ireland
National University of Ireland, Maynooth
The National University of Ireland, Maynooth , was founded by the Universities Act, 1997 as a constituent university of the National University of Ireland. It is Ireland's second oldest university, having been formed from St Patrick's College, Maynooth, itself founded in 1795.The university is...
, a Papal University and Ireland's main Roman Catholic seminary, St. Patrick's College. Maynooth is also the seat of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference and holds the headquarters of Ireland's largest development charity, Trocaire
Trócaire
Trócaire is an Irish non governmental organization development agency. The charity is registered in the Republic of Ireland under Irish Charity No...
.
Location and access
Maynooth is located on the R148 roadRoads in Ireland
The island of Ireland, comprising Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, has an extensive network of tens of thousands of kilometres of public roads, usually surfaced. These roads have been developed and modernised over centuries, from trackways suitable only for walkers and horses, to...
between Leixlip
Leixlip
-Politics:Since 1988 Leixlip has had a nine member Town Council , headed by a Cathaoirleach , which has control over many local matters, although it is limited in that it is not also a planning authority...
and Kilcock
Kilcock
Kilcock or Killcock is a town and townland in the north of County Kildare, Ireland, on the border with County Meath. Kilcock is a dormitory town for many of those who work in Dublin...
25Km West of Dublin City, with the M4 motorway bypassing the town. Other roads connect the town to Celbridge
Celbridge
Celbridge is a town and townland on the River Liffey in County Kildare, Ireland. It is west of Dublin. As a town within the Dublin Metropolitan Area and the Greater Dublin Area, it is located at the intersection of the R403 and R405 regional roads....
, Clane
Clane
Clane is a town on the River Liffey and in the barony of Clane in County Kildare, Ireland, from Dublin.Its population of 4,968 makes it the eighth largest town in Kildare and the 78th largest in the Republic of Ireland....
, and Dunboyne
Dunboyne
Dunboyne is a town in County Meath in Ireland. For the most part, it is a dormitory town for the city of Dublin.-Location:Dunboyne is centred on the crossroads formed by the R156 regional road and the old Maynooth Road ....
. Maynooth is also on the Dublin to Sligo rail line and is served by a commuter train service.
Etymology
The ancient name of Maynooth means the plain of Nuadhu. Nuadhu is referred to as the maternal grandfather of the legendary Fionn mac Cumhail in the Annals of the Four MastersAnnals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
.
History
Maynooth was a long-term centre for the Geraldine family, who dominated Irish affairs in various periods.In the 1920s, the town was the unofficial home to the King of England's representative in Ireland, Domhnall Ua Buachalla, who declined to take up official residence in the Viceregal Lodge in the Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park is an urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying 2–4 km west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its 16 km perimeter wall encloses , one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the seventeenth...
, and whose family operated a hardware store in the town until 2005, the only store with an Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
name in the town for many years.
Historical features
The town has, at either end of the main street, Maynooth CastleMaynooth Castle
Maynooth Castle is a castle in Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland.The castle was built before the middle of the 13th century and was the home of the Fitzgerald family from 1176 until the 1534 rebellion of Silken Thomas, the son of the ninth Earl of Kildare...
and Carton House
Carton House
Carton House was one of Ireland's greatest stately homes and one time ancestral seat of the Earls of Kildare and Dukes of Leinster. Located west of Dublin, in Maynooth, County Kildare, the Carton demesne runs to 1,100 acres . For two hundred years it possessed the finest example in Ireland of a...
: two former seats of the Dukes of Leinster. The castle was a stronghold of the 16th century historical figure Thomas FitzGerald, 10th Earl of Kildare
Thomas FitzGerald, 10th Earl of Kildare
Thomas FitzGerald, 10th Earl of Kildare , also known as Silken Thomas , was a figure in Irish history.He spent a considerable part of his early life in England: his mother Elizabeth Zouche, was a cousin of Henry VII...
better known as Silken Thomas. The castle was overrun in 1535, after the rebellion of the Earl.
The village is just inside the western edge of The Pale
The Pale
The Pale or the English Pale , was the part of Ireland that was directly under the control of the English government in the late Middle Ages. It had reduced by the late 15th century to an area along the east coast stretching from Dalkey, south of Dublin, to the garrison town of Dundalk...
.
The most important historical buildings in the town are those of St. Patrick's College and some of which antedate the foundation of the college, while others are in the late Georgian and neo-Gothic revival style. The "new range" of buildings was erected by A.W.N. Pugin in 1850 under a commission from then college president Laurence F. Renehan
Laurence F. Renehan
Rev. Dr. Laurence F. Renehan was an Irish Roman Catholic priest. He served as president of St Patrick's College, Maynooth in County Kildare, Ireland, from 1845 through 1857. Rev. Dr. Laurence F. Renehan (1797-1857) was an Irish Roman Catholic priest. He served as president of St Patrick's College,...
, while the College Chapel was designed and completed by James Joseph McCarthy during the presidency of Dr. Robert Browne in 1894.
The famed Conolly's Folly
Conolly's Folly
Conolly's Folly , a.k.a. The Obelisk or originally The Conolly Folly, is an obelisk structure located near Celbridge and Maynooth, both in north County Kildare, Ireland.-History:...
is also near the town, although it is arguably in Celbridge
Celbridge
Celbridge is a town and townland on the River Liffey in County Kildare, Ireland. It is west of Dublin. As a town within the Dublin Metropolitan Area and the Greater Dublin Area, it is located at the intersection of the R403 and R405 regional roads....
, as it is much closer to it, but is covered by Maynooth's very extensive town boundaries. It was known to be the gateway to the west as the main route from Dublin.
Population
The population of 10,715 (2006 Census) makes it the fifth largest village in Kildare and the 35th largest in the Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. Measurement can be difficult as much of the village's population is transient – students at NUI Maynooth or St. Patrick's College
St Patrick's College, Maynooth
St Patrick's College, Maynooth is the "National Seminary for Ireland" , and a Pontifical University, located in the village of Maynooth, 15 miles from Dublin, Ireland. The college and seminary are often referred to as Maynooth College. The college was officially established as the Royal College...
, or temporary employees at the nearby Intel and Hewlett Packard facilities (both located in Leixlip
Leixlip
-Politics:Since 1988 Leixlip has had a nine member Town Council , headed by a Cathaoirleach , which has control over many local matters, although it is limited in that it is not also a planning authority...
).
Education
National University of Ireland, Maynooth
The National University of Ireland, Maynooth , was founded by the Universities Act, 1997 as a constituent university of the National University of Ireland. It is Ireland's second oldest university, having been formed from St Patrick's College, Maynooth, itself founded in 1795.The university is...
, separated from St. Patrick's College in 1997—are located in the town. They share campus space and many facilities. NUI Maynooth is the only university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in the Republic of Ireland not situated in a city.
There is one secondary school (Maynooth Post Primary), and four primary schools, a girls' school, a boys' school, an Educate Together
Educate Together
Educate Together is an organisation in the Republic of Ireland which sets up and runs multidenominational, coeducational schools. It was founded in 1984 as a result of the Dalkey School Project to found a multidenominational primary school....
school, and an Irish-speaking school.
Amenities
The town contains a fire station, in addition to the area's part time GardaGarda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
station, a health centre, a branch library, a Credit Union
Credit union
A credit union is a cooperative financial institution that is owned and controlled by its members and operated for the purpose of promoting thrift, providing credit at competitive rates, and providing other financial services to its members...
and was formerly home to the worlds 4th largest hamster wheel. In the mid-1980s the town gained some minor fame for having the first callcard phones in Ireland.
Economy
The town is the main retailRetail
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
and other service centre for North Kildare and South Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
, with branches of SuperValu
SuperValu (Ireland)
SuperValu is a supermarket chain in Ireland and Spain, owned by the Musgraves wholesaler firm. Its headquarters is located in Cork and has stores across the entirety of Ireland.-Company structure:...
, Tesco Ireland
Tesco Ireland
Tesco Ireland is the Irish arm of supermarket group Tesco. It was formed in Tesco plc's 1997 takeover of the Irish retailing operations of Associated British Foods, namely Powers' Supermarkets Limited and its subsidiaries, trading as Quinnsworth and Crazy Prices.Tesco operates supermarkets under...
, Aldi
ALDI
ALDI Einkauf GmbH & Co. oHG, doing business as ', short for "Albrecht Discount", is a discount supermarket chain based in Germany...
and Lidl
Lidl
Lidl is a discount supermarket chain based in Germany that operates over 7,200 stores across Europe. The company's full name is Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG...
, as well as a wide variety of non-chain stores. In October 2005, Dunnes Stores
Dunnes Stores
Dunnes Stores, also known as Dunnes, is a supermarket and clothing retail chain, that is based in Dublin, Ireland.The chain primarily sells food, clothes and household wares. In addition to its main customer base in Ireland, the chain has operations in Great Britain and Spain...
opened a major shopping centre
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
off the town's main street, Manor Mills. This centre contains a number of other high street names, such as Easons, Elvery's Sports and a Halifax branch. Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
is open 24 hours, Dunnes Stores
Dunnes Stores
Dunnes Stores, also known as Dunnes, is a supermarket and clothing retail chain, that is based in Dublin, Ireland.The chain primarily sells food, clothes and household wares. In addition to its main customer base in Ireland, the chain has operations in Great Britain and Spain...
also formerly did so. On 18 January 2007 Tesco Ireland announced plans to demolish its existing store in Maynooth (the same store having been demolished and rebuilt only seven years previously) and build a larger shopping centre, anchored by a Tesco Extra store, on a neighbouring site. The new centre is known as Carton Park, after nearby Carton House
Carton House
Carton House was one of Ireland's greatest stately homes and one time ancestral seat of the Earls of Kildare and Dukes of Leinster. Located west of Dublin, in Maynooth, County Kildare, the Carton demesne runs to 1,100 acres . For two hundred years it possessed the finest example in Ireland of a...
. The Tesco Extra portion of the new shopping centre opened on 3 November 2008, with Heatons
Heatons
Heatons is an Irish department store. The store specialises in mens, womens and childrens clothing and homewares. They have 53 stores around Ireland, North and South. The store was established more than 60 years ago...
, Sports World
Sports World
SportsDirect.com is a British sporting goods retailer, the primary retail asset of Sports Direct International plc. The company was formerly known as Sports World and before that Sports Soccer, but since 2007 branches of the chain have been rebranded as SportsDirect.com, the domain name of its...
, Next Children and Boots
Boots UK
Boots UK Limited , is a leading pharmacy chain in the United Kingdom, with outlets in most high streets throughout the country...
. A number of shops that formed part of the former Maynooth Shopping Centre remain open on the old site.
Transport
Maynooth station
Maynooth railway station
Maynooth railway station serves the town of Maynooth in north County Kildare, Ireland. It is situated on the south side of the Royal Canal, opposite Dukes' Harbour...
is one of the busiest in the Dublin / Kildare region, serving as it does two major educational institutions. The town is the terminus of most Iarnród Éireann
Iarnród Éireann
Iarnród Éireann is the national railway system operator of Ireland. Established on 2 February 1987, it is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann . It operates all internal intercity, commuter and freight railway services in the Republic of Ireland, and, jointly with Northern Ireland Railways, the...
Western Commuter, as well as a being served by the Sligo InterCity
InterCity
InterCity is the classification applied to certain long-distance passenger train services in Europe...
service. Dublin Bus
Dublin Bus
Dublin Bus is a public transport operator in Ireland. It operates an extensive bus network of 172 radial, cross-city and peripheral routes and 18 night routes in the city of Dublin and the Greater Dublin Area. The company, established in 1987, is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann which is...
and Bus Éireann services also serve the town. A number of private operators also serve the town, linking it with nearby towns and cities.
Golf
- GUI National Golf Academy is located in Maynooth. It has a driving range, putting green and short game area, as well as lessons.
Rugby
The North Kildare Rugby Club is the local rugby club and is situated about 3 km from Maynooth on the KilcockKilcock
Kilcock or Killcock is a town and townland in the north of County Kildare, Ireland, on the border with County Meath. Kilcock is a dormitory town for many of those who work in Dublin...
road.
Maynooth Native Bob Casey
Bob Casey (rugby player)
Bob Casey is an Irish rugby union footballer who plays at lock for London Irish. Casey is originally from Maynooth, County Kildare, and was educated at Blackrock College, a Dublin secondary school renowned for producing international rugby players.-Club career:Casey joined Leinster in 1999 and...
is a professional rugby player and Ireland international. Casey has represented Ireland at Schools, U19, U21, Ireland 'A' and U25 levels. He made his senior debut against Australia in 1999.
Casey has six caps for Ireland. When he played for Ireland against Canada in May 2009, it was his first cap since 2000.
He Currently Plays for London Irish.
He has also played for the Barbarians.
Gaelic games
- Maynooth GAAMaynooth GAAMaynooth GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland. It caters for the sporting and social needs of the residential areas adjacent to its location for all ages through the promotion of Gaelic games — Gaelic football, hurling, camogie and handball.Maynooth are...
is the local Gaelic Athletic AssociationGaelic Athletic AssociationThe Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
club and compete in the senior football championship in Kildare since 2009.
Horseracing
- Maynooth is home to the thoroughbred horse racingThoroughbred horse raceThoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
and breedingHorse breedingHorse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
operation, Moyglare Stud Farm.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
External links
- Maynooth (County Council site)
- Maynooth Town Portal (Maynooth Town Portal) news & forums
- North Kildare Rugby Club
- Maynooth Toastmasters
- Architecture of Maynooth
- Bond Bridge photographs pre-demolition
- News article about Bond Bridge
- Maynooth Town Football Club
- MaynoothOnline.ie, Business Directory for Maynooth