From Market House to Heritage Centre
On 15 July 1950, the Leinster Leader announced that Kildare County Council had decided ‘to acquire the old Market House [in Kildare Town] and to erect the new weighbridge on the western side of same. The public lavatory would be closed. The Engineers report on the proposed improvement of the old Market House would come before the next meeting of the County Council’. Kildare Town’s Market House was subsequently bought by Kildare Co. Council for £300 and carefully reconstructed with a bus shelter, public toilets and a small museum incorporated into the new building. It won an An Taisce Award in 1973.
However, it would be the next century before the Market House would become what is now known as Kildare Town Heritage Centre. Eamonn Mulvihill, of the Heritage Centre Committee recalled that the project to turn the Market House into a heritage centre began in 1992 with the formation of a committee and a campaign to have Kildare declared a heritage town. Building work began in 1999. The European Regional Development Fund provided £230,000 towards the project while Kildare County Council provided an additional £50,000, with a similar contribution raised by the local community. Following this major community and council-backed heritage campaign the Kildare Town Heritage Centre was officially opened in the restored Market House by Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy, on 17 September 2001.
When Kildare was not included in the Ireland’s Ancient East campaign, Fáilte Ireland was contacted and lobbied to overturn that decision. Kildare Town Heritage Centre is the only official tourist office in the county. It also works with Tidy Towns, the Twinning Committee, Kildare Village and other local groups. Manager Tom McCutcheon, in a Leinster Leader interview, said that the centre provides information to local, national and international visitors, runs guided walking tours, and is linked with County Kildare Fáilte and Fáilte Ireland. Today Kildare Town Tourist Office & Heritage Centre features an Immersive VR Experience. Its byline is: ‘Kildare where history, heritage and legend come alive. At the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East, the Kildare Heritage centre is your gateway to the rich history and legends of Kildare Town. From the legacy of St. Brigid to medieval wonders and timeless traditions, our centre brings the past to life through immersive experiences, guided tours, and local storytelling. Whether you’re a curious traveller or a heritage enthusiast, discover the soul of Kildare with us.’ Why not plan a visit?
James Durney
