Ballitore , County Kildare

Ballitore , County Kildare

Ballitore is an old Quaker village where the Anglo-Irish political philosopher Edmund Burke (1729-97) was educated before going to Trinity College , Dublin. The Ballitore Quaker Museum above the village library, which is housed in the old Friends Meeting House, gives a vivid picture of what Quaker life would have been like here : each member of the industrious community plied a trade , and their sober , business like approach made Ballitore a model village by comparison with the general squalor and poverty of surrounding places. A bit different to anything else you might see on tours of Ireland.

But the dominant impression given by the walled stranger was cause for excitement. Up towards the main road is the walled Quaker driveyard , whose plain, dignified tombstones seem suitable monuments to the qualities of the dead.

If you are passing on your Ireland tours have a wee look at this hidden gem.