Towards the end of the 17th century David Digues La Touche came to Ireland as a Williamite soldier and fought at the battle of the Boyne. He had three sons, the eldest David settled at Marlay Park, Co. Dublin, and was the first governor of the Bank of Ireland. The second son, Peter, inherited his father's estate at Bellevue, Delgany, Co. Wicklow. The third son, John, purchased Harristown estate in 1768.
Harristown was an old Eustace estate with a charter from Charles II creating it a free borough with a corporation, consisting of a sovereign and twelve burgesses, which had the privilege of returning two members to parliament. John La Touche enclosed the estate and built a boundary wall. This wall changed the line of the road from Naas to Dunlavin, which originally ran through Harristown estate, across what is probably the oldest surviving bridge on the Liffey. To complete the road around the estate he built a new bridge over the Liffey at Carnalway, which has a date stone of 1788.
John La Touche, Known as "The master of Harristown," was a member of the established church. His family had helped re-build St. Patrick's church on the edge of the estate to the design of the architect James Franklin Fullet. The "Master" caused something of a sensation in Kildare when after coming under the influence of the Victorian evangelist Rev. C.H. Spurgeon he became a member of the Baptist community. In 1882 he had the Baptist church and Manse built at Brannockstown along with a school and teacher's residence. John La Touche had three children: Emily, Rose and Percy. Rose La Touche's romance with the Victorian writer John Ruskin is well recounted by Robert Dunlop in his book "Waters under the Bridge." Robert Dunlop is the present pastor of the Baptist church in Brannockstown.
The "Master" died in 1904 and was succeeded in the estate by his son Percy. Percy La Touche was the last of the family to live at Harristown and is remembered in Kildare for his passion for hunting and was the typical country gentleman of Kildare. He died in 1921. Harristown House and Estate was purchased by Major Beaumont in1946 and is presently owned by Mr. Hubert Beaumont.
Harristown house is located 5 miles from Naas on the Dunlavin Road.