Kildare is a town in
County Kildare,
Ireland. Its population of 8,412 (2011 Census) makes it the eighth largest town in County Kildare and the
55th largest in the state, with a growth rate of 8% since the 2006 census. Although Kildare gives its name to the county,
Naas is the
county town. The town lies on the
R445, some 50 km (31 mi) west of
Dublin – near enough for it to have become, despite being a regional centre in its own right, a
commuter town for the capital.