Straffan
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| Straffan Teach Srafáin |
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| Town population: | {{{town_pop}}} |
| Rural population: | 1,453 (2006) |
| Elevation: | 70 m |
| County: | Kildare |
| Province: | Leinster |
Straffan is a small village in County Kildare, Republic of Ireland, on the banks of the River Liffey.
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[edit] Irish name
Causing some confusion and a small element of controversy is the Irish language name of Straffan. Officially the Irish name of Straffan is Teach Srafáin, which roughly translates as the house of Srafan. Traditionally the Irish name was An Srutháin, meaning the stream, with the prominent Straffan House (Teach Srafáin) influencing local life. In common usage until recently was Cluainíní, meaning Little Meadows or Fields, probably because a railway station (Straffan Station) was located in the townland of Clownings. Cluainíní is now regarded as the Irish name of Clownings, a townland with a Straffan address about 2 miles from the village.
Adding to the confusion was the anomaly, which was corrected in the last five years, of the road signs on the three major roads leading into the village showing the three different names.
[edit] Notable sites and buildings
Today Straffan contains Catholic and Church of Ireland churches, a newsagent, a butchers', two pubs, the Straffan Inn and Friel's, a gaelic football club, a soccer club and a primary school, Scoil Bhríde (present building constructed in 1963). But foremost among the buildings of Straffan is The Kildare Hotel and Golf Club (K Club), a 5-star hotel with two championship golf courses, the Palmer Course, completed in 1990, and the Smurfit Course, completed 2003. It has held the Smurfit European Open every year since 1995 and held the Ryder Cup in 2006. Straffan is also the traditional starting point of the Liffey Descent kayak race, Ireland's largest canoeing event.
Among the sites of historical interest in Straffan are the old Royal Irish Constabulary barracks; Straffan House (now the The Kildare Hotel and Golf Club); Barberstown Castle; the old tower in the graveyard; and the Protestant church which is hundreds of years old.
[edit] Straffan GFC
Straffan GFC, one of the eight oldest gaelic football clubs in Ireland, was formed in 1885, and is the focal point of the community. Currently Straffan has two teams competing in the Kildare Senior and Junior Football Leagues.
