Conolly's Folly facts for kids
| Baois Uí Chongaile | |
Conolly's Folly as of May 2016
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| Coordinates | 53°22′08″N 6°33′38″W / 53.3690°N 6.5605°W |
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| Location | Barrogstown West, Celbridge, County Kildare, Ireland |
| Type | Arch structure with Obelisk |
| Height | 42 m (138 ft) |
| Completion date | 1740 |
| Dedicated to | William Conolly |
The Conolly Folly (Irish: Baois Uí Chongaile), a.k.a. The Obelisk, is an obelisk structure and National Monument located between Leixlip and Maynooth in County Kildare, Ireland.
History
The folly was built just outside Castletown Estate (containing Castletown House), which contains two follies, both commissioned by Katherine Conolly, the philanthropic widow of Speaker William Conolly. It was built at a cost of £400 to provide employment for the poor of Celbridge when the famine of 1740–41 was at its worst. The obelisk was built in 1740 after a particularly severe winter. As a folly, it could be seen from the back of Castletown some 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) away and it is built exactly perpendicular to the centre of the house. It was intended to mark the rear entrance gateway to Castletown house in conjunction with an avenue leading to the house.
The folly was built on land that was near to, but not on, the Conolly estate. It therefore belonged to neighbouring Carton, the home of the FitzGerald family, Dukes of Leinster.
Designed by Richard Castle, it is 42 metres (140 feet) high and is composed of several arches, adorned by stone pineapples and eagles, topped by a massive obelisk pillar. It was restored in 1961-65 by the Irish Georgian Society, and underneath is the grave of Mariga, first wife of Desmond Guinness of Leixlip Castle.
The folly, on its 5 acres of woodland, was acquired in 1968 thanks to American donor Rose Saul Zalles. Its restoration was the Society's first major project.
It is now in the care of the Office of Public Works (OPW). A more modern gate prevents access to the folly.
Spelling
The name Conolly is used, rather than the more common spelling Connolly, as it was the spelling used by William Conolly and by all his descendants. It derived from the Irish 'Ui Conghaile'.
See also
In Spanish: Conolly's Folly para niños
