Meet the neighbourhood: A local’s guide to Kildare

In our latest series “Meet the Neighbourhood”, we’re introducing readers to the towns less travelled. First up, is Kildare – just an hour from Dublin, it is home to a few of our staffers who have rounded up their favourite haunts around town.

Championing green, our guide includes where to find Irish-made wares, the best restaurants and unmissable sights to stroll through and break up the day.

Brunch

Any trip to Kildare would be amiss without a visit to Kildare Village, a luxury shopping destination with over 100 boutiques. On your way, pop by Orby’s by Lucy on the Curragh racecourse for breakfast/brunch/lunch. 

This gorgeous café is right on the race course and has a wide range of delicious food. Afterwards, stop by the Curragh for a walk on the plains – the old military road is our go-to for a long walk, and you can also traverse the track around the racecourse.

Shopping

Whether you’ve made the day trip with your mum, auntie, friend, or partner, Kildare Village is a great place to shop until you drop. It has a range of top designers, both Irish and abroad. If you’re looking for something special, make sure to stop by Kilkenny Design.

The Kilkenny Design shop there has a gorgeous mix of homeware from beautiful blankets to Nicholas Mosse pottery, gifting and self-care products including Jo Browne, Tan Organic and Green Angel. As well as this, there’s a Christmas shop with lots of lovely decorations!

Want to support Irish makers? We recommend picking up a new Max Benjamin candle or diffuser to set a cosy ambiance in your home. The family-owned candlemakers are based in Wicklow and use 100% natural wax. All their scents are inspired by travels around the world and by the natural habitat on our doorstep, transporting you to a peaceful state.

Award-winning printmakers JANDO is a great shout as well. Offering everything from prints and tote bags to greeting cards and notebooks, their style is exciting and modern with a strong emphasis on colour. Plus, all their prints are packaged in clear protective sleeves made from corn starch and are 100 per cent biodegradable.

Sights 

Located just 3km from Kildare Village, the Irish National Stud & Gardens is the perfect place to visit after a shopping trip to Kilkenny Design. Enjoy a stroll or a guided tour around the famous gardens or the exciting Irish Racehorse experience. Finish your trip with a gorgeous lunch in The Japanese Gardens restaurant where they offer an array of fresh and flavourful food.

One of Kildare’s lesser-known secrets is The Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge. The museum houses fashion collections and artefacts which once belonged to some of the greatest style icons of modern times such as Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Princess Grace, Princess Diana, the Beatles and many more.

Dinner

Before you leave Kildare Town, stop into Firecastle to pick up something for dinner. They have a gorgeous grocery selection along with home-cooked meals that you can pop into the oven when you get home! They also do lovely lunches/cakes/coffee!

“Meet the Neighbourhood” is brought to you in partnership with Champion Green. Champion Green is the biggest #SupportLocal movement in a generation, encouraging the people of Ireland to seek local where possible and shop consciously online to keep our towns and communities vibrant for years to come. Champion Green is supported by Kilkenny Design and Visa, in association with Retail Excellence, Small Firms Association, Chambers Ireland, Maxol and AIB Merchant Services. Learn more at www.championgreen.ie.