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Celbridge Abbey Grounds
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Celbridge Abbey and its grounds are on the Celbridge-Clane road. It was built
by Bartholomew Von Homrigh 305 years ago, in 1695. He lived there with his wife and children. When he died in 1703 his wife left for London. The eldest girl in the family Esther became the beloved Vanessa of Jonathan Swift. Vanessa returned to the Abbey upon hearing that Swift had secretly married another woman.She waited for him to return to her but he never did. The Abbey then passed to Thomas Marley who had three sons and two daughters. One of his daughters Mary married James Gratten and their son was Henry Gratten. The Abbey then passed to Sir Gerald and Lady Dease. The Abbey grounds were later acquired by the brothers of St.John of God to serve as a community house in 1957. The St. John of God order still own the grounds and have lovely gardens there.
(Information courtesy of The History of Celbridge-Tony Doohan)
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