County Kildare History and Heritage
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Abbeys of County Kildare
Celbridge Abbey
Celbridge Abbey was built by Bartholomew Van Homrigh, Lord Mayor of Dublin,
in 1697. It was his daughter, Esther Van Homrigh who has been immortalised
as ‘Vanessa’ by Jonathan Swift, who came regularly from his deanary
to visit her.
Clane Abbey
The connection of Clane Abbey with Christianity, predates St. Patrick’s.
The abbey was founded by St. Ailbe, bishop of Ferns. St. Senchall was the second
abbot. The abbey took part in the missionary work of the sixth and seventh
centuries. With the coming of the Normans, the celtic abbey went into decline.