16th Annual MOPAN Conference
June 17th - 20th 2009 NUI Maynooth
Things to do in Maynooth and the Surrounding Area
Golf
World class golf is played on the courses around Maynooth.
Carton House Golf Club hosted the Nissan Irish Open in 2005 and 2006.
The K Club is home to the Smurfit European Open since 1995, and was the venue for the Ryder Cup in 2006.
Knockanally Golf Club is an Irish Champion Golf Course.
Equestrian
Kildare has been branded The Thoroughbred County due to its association with all things equestrian. The rich flat lands of Kildare are home to the headquarters of the bloodstock industry in Ireland so just about any horse related activity is possible.
Horse riding and trekking are widely available. Some centres also offer other activities such as clay pigeon shooting.
How about a day at the races while you're staying in Maynooth? The Kilbeggan Racecourse is a short drive from Maynooth.
Don't forget to visit the National Stud. (see Walks & Tours below).
Motor Racing
Experience the thrill of driving a race prepared saloon car and single seater race car at Mondello Park in Naas.
Walks and tours
Take the opportunity when visiting Maynooth to take a trip to the National Stud and Japanese Gardens in Kildare town, Kildare's biggest tourist attraction with tours running daily during the summer months.
St Fiachra's Garden is the newest addition and was built in 2000 to celebrate the millennium.
Straffan Butterfly Farm
Enjoy a live tropical butterfly exhibition in this indoor all weather centre - a mini visit to an exotic tropical environment where butterflies fly and feed around you.
Heritage
North Kildare has a wonderfully rich collection of historical places and buildings to visit. From the whimsical (the Obelisk, the Wonderful Barn) to the grand and imposing (Castletown House) or the medieval ( Maynooth Castle, Leixlip Castle). Many of the Georgian mansions in the area are now hotels or golf clubs and can be visited in their new capacity. Straffan House is now the K Club, the seat of the Dukes of Leinster is now Carton House and Golf Club.
Castletown House is the largest and finest Palladian mansion in Ireland. Its magnificent exterior and sumptuous interiors and rooms are well worth a visit. It is open to the public and has a coffee shop for visitors.
Shopping
Maynooth town itself is also well equipped with shopping facilities including several boutiques, a beauty salon, a bookshop, hairdressers, newsagents, off licences, convenience stores and shopping centres. The Tesco complex to the top of the Main street includes a shoe shop and the post office as well as a large supermarket. There are also shopping facilities in the Glenroyal Centre including a Supervalu supermarket plus a chemist, newsagent, hairdresser and sports shop. The Manor Mills shopping centre is situated in the heart of Maynooth town and shops include; Dunnes Stores, Sasha, Easons and Elverys Sports
Shopping facilities near by include Liffey Valley, located approximately 20 kilometers from Maynooth, the Blanchardstown Centre, also located approximately 20 kilometers away and the Kildare Village Outlet Centre located approximately 50 kilometers away. All contain a good mix of high street stores and boutiques.
For further information please e-mail nirsa@nuim.ie.
last updated: Tuesday, 05-May-2009 10:23:19 IST
