The Curragh Plains

Category: Nature & Outdoors / Historic Landscapes
Location: Between Kildare Town and Newbridge, County Kildare
Type: Open grassland, heritage landscape and walking area
Size: Approximately 5,000 acres

Overview

The Curragh Plains are one of County Kildare’s most distinctive landscapes: a vast open stretch of ancient grassland between Kildare Town and Newbridge. The Curragh is widely described as Ireland’s largest, finest and possibly only surviving example of ancient lowland unenclosed grassland, making it important for ecology, history, archaeology and recreation.

The plains are popular for walking, horse racing, training, local heritage visits and open-air recreation. Their wide skies, open grassland and long views give the Curragh a character unlike anywhere else in Kildare.

Why it matters

The Curragh is more than a scenic open space. It is a nationally important historic landscape with archaeological sites, rare grassland habitats and long associations with horses, military history, folklore and early Irish tradition.

Notable heritage features include Gibbet Rath, the base of the cross at Rathbride, and the ancient route known as the Race of the Black Pig. The surrounding landscape is closely connected with other important places, including Dún Ailinne to the south and the Hill of Allen to the north.

Tradition holds that the great plain was granted to St Brigid of Kildare in the year 480 AD. Whether approached through history, folklore or ecology, the Curragh remains one of Kildare’s defining places.

Horses, sport and open space

The Curragh has been associated with horse racing for hundreds of years, and remains central to Ireland’s racing and bloodstock landscape. Golf was first played on the Curragh in 1852, adding another layer to its sporting history.

The plains were also famously used as a filming location for Braveheart, bringing their open landscape to an international audience.

History and protection

The Curragh has been the subject of legislation for centuries. As early as 1299, an Act was passed to prevent pigs feeding on the plains and damaging the grassland. Later, the Curragh of Kildare Act 1868 was introduced to make better provision for the management and use of the Curragh, including preserving its role in horse racing and racehorse training.

The care and management of the Curragh has long required a balance between public access, grazing, military use, racing, conservation and archaeology. Today, the plains remain a sensitive and valued landscape, with ongoing responsibility for their protection and day-to-day management.

What to notice

Look for the openness of the grassland, the absence of ordinary field boundaries, the long views toward the surrounding hills, and the subtle archaeological features that sit within the plain. The Curragh’s importance is often in its overall landscape rather than in one single monument.

Visitors may notice racehorse training areas, walking routes, military associations, grazing animals and historic features spread across the plains. Some areas are ecologically and archaeologically sensitive, so care should be taken when walking.

Visiting the Curragh Plains

The Curragh is a popular place for walking and enjoying open countryside, but it is also a working and protected landscape. Visitors should respect signs, avoid restricted military or training areas, keep dogs under control, and take care around horses, livestock and traffic.

Because the terrain is open and exposed, weather can change the experience quickly. Suitable footwear is recommended, especially after rain.