- Splendid old university beside medieval castle ruins.
- One of Ireland's oldest seats of learning.
- Interesting gardens.
- Best enjoyed on early weekend mornings, can get too busy at other times.
- College building started in 1795 to provide a Catholic seminary, this becoming the largest in the world.
- Architecture rivals that of older (Protestant) Trinity College, but is of a more unified look.
- New additions like the landscaped gardens fit in harmoniously.
- Many Irish-American connections, including a Marian statue from Los Angeles.
What once was the largest seminary in the world, churning out thousands of young priests, has dramatically changed after the Second World War - in 1966 members of the lay religious orders were admitted, in 1968 any student could attend if he or she wished to do so. Even though steeped in Catholic tradition, the college became part of the National University of Ireland (NUI).
For the tourist Maynooth should be worth a trip from Dublin if time allows - easily reached by car or train, the college will transport visitors back into the academic world of the 19th century. Not so much in an academic, more in an architectural sense. A veritable treasure of college architecture lies virtually hidden in this Kildare town, certainly able to rival Trinity College.
The atmosphere is best experienced on a quiet morning - Sundays or bank holidays being especially recommended, you can stroll almost alone through the extensive grounds, encountering only the odd jogger, some security personnel and squirrels as well as cats. Not to mention birds - several species can be readily observed, including the kingfisher!
Do not miss the landscaped gardens wedged between the church and the main buildings - their water features and meandering paths give them almost Zen-like quality.
