A Class Apart

The landed gentry played a significant role in the history of Kildare. The highly impressive houses throughout the county stand as testimony to this. There has always been a deep fascination in 'The Big House' - the families living there, their treatment of the peasants, and their eventual fall. The Gentry of Kildare is a fascinating exploration into the lives of a number of gentry families, their rise and their demise. This study of the landed gentry is a wonderful read from both an historical as well as a local point of view.