Johnstownbridge

Johnstownbridge Baile Droichead Sheáin
Town
Johnstownbridge Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53°24′07″N 6°51′19″W
Country	Ireland
Province	Leinster
County	County Kildare
Population  (2016)
• Total	683
Time zone	UTC+0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Irish Grid Reference	N775412

Johnstownbridge (Irish: Baile Droichead Sheáin) is a rapidly expanding commuter town located in north County Kildare, Ireland. in the parish of Cadamstown, the district of Balyna, and barony of Carbury. It is located on the R402 road between Enfield and Edenderry just off the M4 motorway.

History

The bridge was the scene of a battle in the 1798 rebellion between Michael Aylmer's rebel forces and British colonial forces. Johnstownbridge had a patent granted in the 17th century for holding a weekly market on Monday, but Lewis's Topography noted in 1837 that "this privilege has not been enjoyed for many years: fairs are held on March 31 May 29 October 13th, and December 21st." Lewis also noted "a curious old cross, the only relic to mark the site of an abbey that formerly existed here.". A constabulary police station was based here in the first half of the 19th century. One of Daniel O'Connell's colleagues in Irish independence movement Richard More O'Ferrall (1797–1880), MP for Kildare 1839-57 and 1859–65, lived in Balyna house.

Schools

The town is served by St Patricks National School.

Gaelic games

Johnstownbridge GAA, the local Gaelic Athletic Association club, has won the Kildare football championship three times.

External links

• Kildare county council website (news of Johnstownbridge requires a separate search)