The Curragh
The Curragh of Kildare | |
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  The Curragh | |
| Coordinates: 53°09′27″N 06°50′24″W / 53.15750°N 6.84000°W | |
| Part of | Central Plain |
| Area | |
| • Total | 19.71 square kilometres (7.61 sq mi; 4,870 acres) |
| Elevation | 30 m (100 ft) |
The Curragh (/ˈkʌrə/ KURR-ə; Irish: An Currach [ənˠ ˈkʊɾˠəx]) is a flat open plain in County Kildare, Ireland. This area is well known for horse breeding and training. The Irish National Stud is on the edge of Kildare town, beside the Japanese Gardens. Pollardstown Fen, the largest fen in Ireland, is of particular interest to botanists and ecologists because of the numerous bird species that nest and visit there. There are also many rare plants that grow there.
It is composed of a sandy soil, formed after an esker deposited a sand load, and as a result has excellent drainage characteristics.