Newbridge, officially known by its Irish name Droichead Nua (), is a town in County Kildare, Ireland. While the nearby Great Connell Priory was founded in the 13th century, the town itself formed from the 18th century onwards, and grew rapidly alongside a military barracks which opened in the early 19th century. Taking on the name Newbridge (An Droichead Nua) in the 20th century, the town expanded to support the local catchment, and also as a commuter town for Dublin. Doubling in population during the 20 years between 1991 and 2011, its population of 24,366 in 2022 Noble and Keenan's map of Kildare 1752, drawn before the town was started, marks 'The New Bridge' in the vicinity of 'Old Connel'.

Location

thumb|Map of Newbridge

The town is located on the banks of the River Liffey. Upriver are towns such as Athgarvan, Kilcullen and Blessington, while downriver are the towns of Caragh, Clane and Celbridge.

Newbridge is bounded by the Curragh Plains to the west, Pollardstown Fen and the Bog of Allen and Moulds Bog to the northwest. Around the Curragh and to the east are a number of stud farms. To the south, the motorway now forms a boundary to the town.

Economy

Industry

The area's industrial history includes rope making (at Irish Ropes PLC, established 1933, now closed) Cutlery and silverware is crafted at the Newbridge Silverware plant. Pharmaceutical companies such as Oral-B and Pfizer have also based themselves in the town, and the latter is located at Little Connell.

Lily O'Brien's, the Irish chocolatier, is based in the IDA Business Park on Green Road, Bord na Móna has its headquarters in the centre of Newbridge, and the Department of Defence has a base on Station Road.

The Kildare/Leixlip Branch of the general workers union SIPTU has its headquarters at Georges Street.

Many people living in Newbridge commute to work in Dublin. The Whitewater Shopping Centre also has a 6-screen cinema, operated now by Odeon Cinemas, which opened in December 2009. There are also Penneys and TK Maxx outlets in Newbridge.

Transport

Rail

The town is situated on the main Dublin–Cork railway line which connects the town to Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford and Westport. A regular commuter train service operates between Newbridge and Dublin. Newbridge railway station opened on 4 August 1846 and was closed for goods traffic on 6 September 1976.

Road

The M7 motorway bypasses the town; the R445 connects the town to the bypass (Junctions 10 and 12 on the M7) along the route previously forming part of the N7. The M9 to Kilcullen, Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford leaves the M7 west of Naas at Junction 11.

Religion

upright|thumb|[[Conleth|St Conleth's Parish Church in Newbridge]]

right|thumb|Church of Ireland, Moorefield

There are a number of churches in Newbridge representing several denominations. In the Roman Catholic divisions, Newbridge is situated in St. Conleth's Parish in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, and the parish has a total of three churches in the town: St Conleth's Parish Church (1852), Cill Mhuire (1983) and the Dominican St. Eustace's Church (1966). A Church of Ireland church (1828) is located in the Moorefield area of town, and is part of St. Patrick's Anglican Parish.

Newbridge Sports Centre hosts the African faith group "The Kingdom of Heavenly Water, Fire and Mountains" and a Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall is located just outside the town, near Milltown. Open Arms Church is located within Newbridge Industrial Estate. Newbridge Bible Fellowship Church is located in the Roseberry section of the town.

Education

thumb|[[Newbridge College]]

Primary

Primary schools serving the town include Scoil Mhuire, Gaelscoil Chill Dara (an Irish-medium school), The Patrician Primary School, St Conleth's Infant Primary School, Scoil Mhuire, St Conleth's & St Mary's Primary School, St Patrick's National School, Newbridge Educate Together National School, and Scoil Bride in Athgarvan.

Secondary

Secondary schools in the area are the Patrician Secondary School, the Holy Family Secondary School, St. Conleth's Community College, St. Mark's School, Newbridge College, a fee-paying co-educational secondary school, run by the Dominican Order, Leinster Senior College, a small private fee-paying school and, near the town, Gaelcholáiste Chill Dara, is Kildare's only Irish-speaking second-level school.

St Conleth's is also home to a branch of the National College of Ireland, which offers a small number of "level-five" courses to Leaving Certificate students.

Sundai Ireland International School, a Japanese international school, was previously based in Newbridge.

Adult education

The Kildare VTOS adult education centre is located in the town and offers programmes to mature students.

Sport and recreation

Clubs and societies

Newbridge is home to Kildare Gaelic Athletic Association's county grounds, and the sport's two local club teams, Sarsfield's GAA and Moorefield GAA.

Active association football clubs include Newbridge Town F.C and Newbridge Colts Football Club, both members of the Kildare and District Football League. Kildare County F.C. previously fielded teams in the League of Ireland First Division.

Newbridge RFC is the town's only rugby club. Founded in 1996, with the amalgamation of the Curragh RFC and Kilcullen RFC, Newbridge RFC compete in the J1 Division 1 Leinster League.

The Kildare History & Family Research Centre is based at the library in Newbridge and houses a local history collection and genealogical research service.

Newbridge Tidy Towns Association's main aim is to improve the living environment in the town via participation in the national Tidy Towns competition. Since the launching of National Tidy Towns Competitions in 1958, Newbridge has received: the silver medal in 2013 and 2014, Bronze Medals 2008 to 2012 inclusive, and a Race against Waste 2005 Certificate of Excellence / Highly Commended award. There is also a sports centre (with both indoor and outdoor facilities), three gyms, two swimming pools, a children's playground, and a number of sports and leisure clubs.

There are several golf courses in the area, with water sports, fishing and the Curragh Racecourse all also close by. Newbridge also hosts Kildare's only greyhound racing track.

Nearby (and within walking distance of the town) are the Curragh Plains, Moulds Bog (Roseberry), and Pollardstown Fen.

The Gables Guest House & Leisure Centre is located on Kilcullen Road and has a 20m swimming pool and gym.

International relations

Newbridge is twinned with Bad Lippspringe (Germany), Ocala (Florida, United States, since 2008) and Argentré-du-Plessis (France, since 2017).

People

<!-- New links in alphabetical order please -->

  • Luka Bloom (born 1955 as Barry Moore), musician
  • William Cator (1839–1902), cricketer and clergyman
  • Clare Daly (born 1968), politician
  • Pat Eddery (1952–2015), jockey
  • JyellowL (born 1998), rapper
  • Kathleen Lonsdale (1903–1971), scientist
  • Dónal Lunny (born 1947), musician
  • Jack McKenna (born 1942), darts player
  • Christy Moore (born 1945), singer and musician
  • Sinéad O'Carroll (born 1973), singer
  • Cian O'Neill, Gaelic footballer and manager
  • Bridget Partridge (1890 – 1966), nun
  • Jarlath Regan (born 1980), comedian
  • Karen Shinkins (born 1976), sprinter

See also

  • List of towns and villages in Ireland

References

  • Newbridge Tidy Towns Association