Straffan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Straffan
Teach Srafáin (Irish)
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Village
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Barberstown Road
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 Straffan
Location in Ireland
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| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | County Kildare |
| Elevation | 70 m (230 ft) |
| Population
(2016)
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853 |
| Time zone | UTC±0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (IST) |
| Eircode routing key |
W23
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| Telephone area code | +353(0)1 |
Straffan (Irish: Teach Srafáin) is a small village in County Kildare, Ireland. It sits by the River Liffey, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) upstream from Dublin, the capital city. In 2016, about 853 people lived there, which was almost double the number from 2006!
Straffan is also the name of the wider area around the village. It's famous for being home to the Kildare Country Club, often called the K Club. This club has two amazing golf courses where big international events like the European Open and the Ryder Cup (a golf tournament between Europe and the US in 2006) have been held.
Contents
What Straffan is Like Today
The main part of Straffan village is built around two crossroads. Here you'll find a Catholic church and a Church of Ireland church. Over the years, the village grew with different types of houses being built, from older estate homes to newer housing areas.
Where is Straffan?
Straffan is in a low area of the Liffey valley, surrounded by fields that sometimes flood near the River Liffey and River Morell. Farming is a big part of the local economy. For a long time, farmers from Straffan have won prizes at agricultural events. There's also a research station for farming from University College Dublin nearby. Just like much of County Kildare, breeding and training racehorses is also common here.
The Name of Straffan
The village gets its name from a saint called St. Srafán. His special day is May 23rd. Straffan is also mentioned in an old Irish collection of place legends called Dinnshenchas Érenn. This book includes a poem about a warrior named Lumann who died in a place called Tech Srafáin. The name "Straffan" is a shorter, English version of the original Irish name, Teach Srafáin.
Another Irish name, Cluainíní, sometimes refers to Straffan. This name actually belongs to a nearby area called Clownings, where the old railway station and post office used to be.
Interesting Places to Visit
Today, Straffan has a Catholic church and a Church of Ireland church, a newsagent, a butchers' shop, two pubs (the Straffan Inn and Friel's), a gaelic football club, a soccer club, and a primary school called Scoil Bhríde. The area has a rich history, with many old sites listed for preservation by Kildare County Council. These include an ancient hill fort and a round tower. You can also visit the Steam Museum at Lodge Park.
Castles and Houses
There are several historic buildings around Straffan:
- Castledillon: This was once a tower house, but now only its foundations remain.
- Barberstown Castle:
This castle is a well-known landmark on the road between Celbridge and Clane. It was first built by Nicholas Barby in the 13th century. Over the centuries, it was owned by many different families. Today, it's a hotel and a popular place for weddings.Barberstown Castle, a historic landmark.
- Lyons Castle: This castle was mentioned in old records from 1332. It was owned by the Lawless family, who later built a large house nearby.
- Lodge Park: This beautiful house was designed by Nathaniel Clements for Hugh Henry. It's known for its four wings, which is quite unusual.
- Straffan Lodge: This house was built in the 19th century and is famous for its dining room, which is decorated in a Tudor style with oak panels.
Religion in Straffan
Straffan has a long history of religious sites. The old medieval parish of Straffan is located on the edge of the Diocese of Dublin.
- St. Patrick's Church: The ruined parish church in the village graveyard dates back to the 15th century.
- Straffan Church of Ireland Parish Church: This church was built in 1833 and has beautiful stained glass windows. It was designed to look like churches in France.
- St. Brigid's Catholic Church: This church was first built in 1787 and rebuilt in 1987. It was also the location of the local national school until 1963.
- Ardrass: A well and a stone-roofed chapel here are linked to St Patrick. This hill used to be a place where people went on pilgrimage until the 1800s.
Travel and Transport
Straffan Rail Tragedy
Straffan was the site of a sad railway accident on October 5, 1853. In heavy fog, a goods train crashed into the back of a passenger train that had stopped. This terrible event caused 18 deaths, including four children. It was one of the worst train accidents of its time.
The Straffan railway station opened in 1848 but stopped being used for regular trains in 1947.
Straffan Steam Museum
The Straffan Steam Museum is located in a church building that was moved from Dublin! The museum has a collection of model steam locomotives and large steam engines that were once used in factories and breweries. It's open to visitors on certain days during the summer.
History of Straffan
The Straffan area has seen many historical events. In the 1600s, during the wars of 1641–42, the area was badly affected. Castles like Lyons Castle were attacked and burned.
Later, during the 1798 Rebellion, people from Straffan were involved in fighting for Irish independence. Local landowner Valentine Lawless was a key figure in the United Irishmen, a group that wanted to make Ireland independent.
In 1871, a police station was built in the village, designed with special gun turrets to protect against attacks.
War of Independence
During the Irish War of Independence, a local group of volunteers was formed in Straffan. They took part in actions like destroying telephone wires and ambushes.
In 1975, a local man named Christopher Phelan bravely saved many lives. He delayed an attempt to derail a train near Baronrath bridge, which allowed the train to pass safely before a bomb exploded on the tracks. His quick thinking saved about 200 people.
In 1976, the biggest train robbery in Irish history happened nearby at Wheatfield. A large sum of money was stolen from a mail train.
Straffan Estate and its Owners
The land of Straffan has a long history of different owners, dating back to 1171. Over the centuries, it was passed down through many families, including the Henry family.
- Henry Family: Joseph Henry, who inherited the house in 1749, was a well-known figure and is even featured in paintings by William Hogarth. His son gave the land for the Straffan Catholic church in 1787. The original Henry house later burned down.
- Barton Family: Hugh Barton, from a famous wine company, bought the Straffan estate and built a new house called Straffan House between 1828 and 1832. This beautiful house was designed to look like a French chateau. The Barton family owned both the Straffan estate and their family vineyards in France for many generations.
The K Club
After the Barton family, Straffan House had several different owners. In 1988, a businessman named Michael Smurfit bought Straffan House. He spent a lot of money turning it into a fancy hotel and golf course, which opened in 1991.
The K Club has two championship golf courses, both designed by famous golfer Arnold Palmer. The north course was finished in 1990, and the south course in 2003. These courses have hosted many major golf tournaments, including the European Open and the Ryder Cup in 2006.
Sports in Straffan
Straffan has a strong connection to sports:
- Horse Racing: The area is well-known for breeding and training racehorses. Famous horses like The Tetrarch and Bob's Return were bred here.
- Olympics: Local sportsman Christopher Barton won an Olympic silver medal in rowing in 1948. His father, Derrick Barton, also competed in the Modern Pentathlon at the 1924 Olympics.
- Soccer: Straffan AFC, the local soccer club, was started in 1978. They have won league titles and continue to play today.
- Gaelic Games: The Straffan GAA club has a long history, dating back to 1885. They have been successful in various championships over the years and now have two teams.
- Canoeing: The annual Liffey Descent Canoe Race starts in Straffan. This race follows the River Liffey for about 17 miles (27 kilometers) downstream.
- Basketball: Anne Marie Cooney, a local basketball player, has won silver and gold medals at the Special Olympics World Summer Games.
See also
In Spanish: Straffan para niños
