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County Kildare is Ireland's main horse racing county and has the largest course in the country, the 6,000 acre Curragh, as well as two other high profile tracks at Punchestown and Naas. The Irish National Stud which runs interesting tours and is still breeding racing winners is also in Kildare town. Kildare's Northwest corner is covered by the extensive Bog of Allen and Ireland's two major manmade canals, the Grand Canal and Royal Canal, although no longer in use for transport are being redeveloped for boating and fishing. The ruling family in Kildare were the Anglo-Norman Fitzgeralds who led the abortive 1536 rebellion against the English. The ruins of their sacked castle can seen in Maynooth. The Palladian mansion, Castletown House, in Celbridge is one of most lavish and well preserved of Ireland's Anglo-Irish stately homes. Kildare also has some interesting early Christian remains including three Celtic high crosses at Moone, Castledermot and Old Kilcullen.
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