Kildare

Kildare is a county in the province of Leinster in the Republic of Ireland. It covers part of the lowland west of the Wicklow Mountains and part of the Irish central lowland, measuring some 654 square miles in all. Evidence of ancient settlements includes burial mounds and early Christian ruins. It was officially deemed a county in 1296. It was ruled by the earls of Kildare by the end of the Middle Ages. From 1477 to 1513, the 8th Earl of Kildare ruled Ireland almost like a king. This power came to an end with the rebellion of the 9th earl's son against the English crown. The majority of the population lives in small towns and villages, while the farms tend to be much larger than in the rest of Ireland, averaging around 100 acres. Cattle, sheep, oats, barley, and wheat are the principal agricultural products. Other economic activities are the manufacture of cutlery, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and carpets. The 2003 estimated population was 169,300.