NAAS TOWN HALL
The Town Hall was originally built as a Jail in 1796 by the old Naas Corporation. That was abolished in 1840. The jail building lay empty and was acquired by their successors, the Naas Town Commission in 1854 as their new Municipal building. In 1900 the new Urban District Council took over the running of the town. In 1904 they renovated the Town Hall, and gave it the new facade including the twin-faced clock, that we know to this present day.

NAAS COURTHOUSE
Naas Courthouse was constructed in 1807 to a design by Architect Richard Morrisson, It was extended in 1860 when the four columned portico was positioned as it is today. The Naas Courthouse was the original meeting place of The Poor Law Guardians who held their monthly meetings there, as did their successors Kildare County Council, from 1899 until the building was badly damaged by fire in the 1950s, which caused them to move to St Mary's. The Criminal Courtroom was the setting for many films, due to its remarkable resemblance to the Old Bailey in London.

ST. DAVIDS CHURCH NAAS
St David's Church was built on the site of an earlier Irish Celtic Church dedicated to the local St Corban or St Patrick. The Norman Barons who settled in the Naas area rebuilt the church and dedicated it to St David, the Patron Saint of Wales. The first historical reference to St David's occurs in 1212 when it was listed as one of the possessions of the Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem. It was the parish church of Naas, well endowed and a place of ecclesiastical importance. For the next 400 years it continued to flourish, and by 1606, when St David's featured in the inquisition of James I, it had grown to contain three chantries - the Holy Trinity, St Mary, and St Catherine.

In 1767 the original church Steeple was in a ruinous state and it was decided to pull it down. Some time later Lord Mayo decided to replace it. But the new tower was never completed. A plaque on the inside wall of the tower states "I found a ruin and left a steeple, Mayo 1783".The bell dates from 1674 and originally hung in the old steeple. The Baptismal Font is a relic of the early Irish Christian Church and most probably was in use in the pre-Norman church of Saint Corban.

During the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries the town became a Norman stronghold. In 1409 Henry IV granted to Naas its first charter as a Corporation and a few years later it was given power to collect tolls at all the entrances to the town, the moneys to go towards fortifying the town with walls and gates. King John's Castle was rebuilt and incorporated into the town wall structure. The vaulted rooms of the old building still exist in the castle. There is a line of castles and houses to the north and east of Naas, which with its own defences, became the chief southern outpost of the "Pale" fence, ordered by "Poyning's" parliament in 1494.

King John's Castle is the last surviving example of the many fortified houses in the town of Naas, It is a large building of three stories, it comprises a tower, with a winding stone staircase, a dungeon, a Dining room on the ground floor, and an equally large Drawing room on the first floor. There is a variety of large and smaller rooms throughout the castle. An underground tunnel leads from the castle in the direction of the North Moat.

There is little mention of the castle in the fifteenth century but in the sixteenth century the lease was given to Thomas Alen and his wife. In 1669 Col. Richard Talbot, Earl of Tyreconnell became the owner of Kilteel. He then sold the castle to Sir William Fownes of Kilkenny. It remained in his family until 1838 when it was sold to the Kennedys of Johnstown-Kennedy. Today the castle is a designated National Monument. It consists of a tower house dated to the fifteenth century, another projecting towerhouse with a spiral stairs and two further rooms at the gate-way.

Dates:
June-September, Wed-Sat 12-5pm, Sun 2-6pm

Hours:
October-May, Tue-Sat 12-5pm

Tel: 0507 - 23344

The farm was opened in 1986 because of the owners interest in butterflies and in nature generally.

Butterflies are fascinating and beautiful creatures and the farm is an indoor all weather centre - a mini visit to an exotic tropical environment here in Ireland. It is an oppurtunity to see at close range some of the worlds most exotic creatures and observe their interesting life cycles.

There is a large exhibition area of butterfly collections from all over the world with a special emphasis on educational and living displays.

In the tropical butterfly house, relax among colourful blooms and exotic planrs while butterflies fly and feed around you.

Whatever the weather is, there's always something to see!

The Walled Garden is of 18th Century origin and is divided into different sections including a roserie which is at its best in June & July.

Other features include a tea room and gift shop.