Kildare and Dublin formed the final Ireland chapter of our 2017 trip before the Crew flew onward to Scotland. After days of castles, cathedrals, family visits, and heritage stops, this leg of the journey brought together St. Brigid’s Cathedral in Kildare, a lighter stop at Kildare Village, a return to Dublin, dinner at Fagan’s Public House, and the practical transition from Irish roads to the next stage of the adventure.
This was not the longest travel day in the series, but it had an important role. It closed the Ireland portion of the journey and reminded us that heritage travel includes both sacred places and ordinary logistics: missed tower-climbing windows, shopping breaks, parking challenges, shared meals, and the quiet anticipation of the next country.
St. Brigid’s Cathedral in Kildare
Our first stop was the town of Kildare, closely associated with St. Brigid, one of Ireland’s patron saints. At St. Brigid’s Cathedral, we admired the stonework, the historic churchyard, and the round tower that rises above the town.
Round towers are among Ireland’s most recognizable early Christian landmarks. They served as symbols of church presence, local identity, and possibly refuge or storage during unsettled times. For travelers, they also give a place instant vertical drama. Bill especially wanted to climb this one, but we arrived a few minutes after the tower had closed for the day. That small disappointment became one of those travel memories that proves timing matters.
The cathedral grounds also contain reminders of earlier Christian settlement and pilgrimage. Kildare’s association with St. Brigid gives the town a spiritual depth that goes beyond one building. It is a place where legend, devotion, architecture, and Irish religious history overlap. For more on Brigid’s seasonal meaning, see Imbolc and the return of light.
Kildare Village: A Lighter Travel Stop
From faith to fashion, we shifted gears quickly. Just outside the town lies Kildare Village, an outlet shopping destination designed like a modern village. Designer brands drew some of the Crew inside, while others were perfectly content to people-watch from a bench.
Not every stop on a heritage trip needs to be ancient or profound. Sometimes a shopping break gives the group a reset. Bryan claimed victory with the best bargain of the day, while Donna and Maggie debated whether Guinness calories could be offset by retail therapy.
Returning to Dublin for the Final Ireland Night
By evening, we were back in Dublin for a one-night stay at the ABC House B&B. This was a practical stop before flying to Scotland the next day. After many days on Irish roads, the Crew was ready for a slower evening, familiar jokes, and one last Dublin meal before the next stage began.
The ABC House had off-street parking, which sounds convenient until you are trying to maneuver a rental van with a long trip already behind it. We managed to get in and out without adding any new scratches to the van, which already had quite a few from previous users.
Dinner at Fagan’s Public House in Dublin
That evening, we dined at Fagan’s Public House, a Dublin pub the Crew enjoyed. After a busy stretch of travel, the meal gave us time to relive favorite jokes and moments from the road. Sheila declared herself “official navigator” after her many successful map calls, while Bill insisted that no trip to Ireland was complete without another pint to close the night.
From Ireland to Scotland
We spent a quiet night in Dublin before flying to Scotland the next day. Ireland had given us roots, warmth, humor, and family memory. Scotland promised castles, coastlines, whisky, and another side of the family story.
As a travel chapter, Kildare and Dublin may seem like a transition. But transitions matter. They give a journey shape. This day moved us from St. Brigid’s sacred landscape to the ordinary details of lodging, parking, dinner, and airport planning. That mix is what real travel feels like.
Why Kildare and Dublin Work as a Travel Day
For travelers planning a similar route, Kildare can work as a useful stop between Kilkenny or the south and Dublin. St. Brigid’s Cathedral gives the day historical and spiritual weight, while Kildare Village offers a lighter break. Returning to Dublin before a flight can also reduce stress if your next travel day starts early.
The lesson is simple: do not treat the final night before a flight as an afterthought. Stay somewhere practical, make parking or transport easy, choose a relaxed dinner, and leave room for the group to breathe before the next chapter begins.
Continue the 2017 Journey
Read more about this trip: Chapter 1: Dublin, Chapter 2: Belfast and Newgrange, Chapter 3: Ballina, Chapter 4: Knock Shrine and Roscommon, and Chapter 5: Rock of Cashel and Kilkenny.
More Ireland Stories
Want more stories about Ireland? Try The Irish Redhead Convention, Top 5 Must-Visit Waterfalls in Ireland, and Irish Inventors: How They Changed the World.
Discover more from Irish Scottish Roots
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
