Leixlip (/ˈliːkslɪp/ or /ˈliːslɪp/; Irish: Léim an Bhradáin, [ˌl̠ʲeːmʲ ə ˈwɾˠad̪ˠaːnʲ]) is a town in north-east County Kildare, Ireland.

The placename comes from the Old Norse lax hlaup (Younger Futhark: ᛚᛅᚼᛋ ᚼᛚᛅᚢᛒ; pronounced [laks l̥ɔup]) which means "salmon leap".

The first settlement at Leixlip was an outpost of Early Scandinavian Dublin, built at the furthest point where longships could be rowed up the Liffey.

[6] Leixlip is part of the Kildare North constituency, which elects four members to Dáil Éireann.

Leixlip, with Celbridge, comprises the Celbridge-Leixlip electoral area, which elects seven members to Kildare County Council.

The Local Government Reform Act 2014 abolished town councils, including Leixlip's, in 2014.

JJ Kavanagh provide the regional 139 service, which links Leixlip with Naas and Blanchardstown.

[citation needed] It was not of major military importance but withstood a 4-day siege by the army of Edward Bruce in 1316.

Leixlip and 809 acres around it (excluding the castle) were bought by William Conolly of nearby Castletown House for approximately £12,000 in 1728.

[23] British publisher and cartographer Samuel Lewis mentions Confey Castle in the first volume of his 1837 work A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland.

In it, he comments that Confey's (or Confoy as he spells it) population was 165, had formerly had a town and a castle of some importance, which were noticed by Camden.

The community school of Confey College has approximately 750 pupils in total,[27] and similarly to Coláiste Chiaráin is mixed gender and non-denominational.

It offers live entertainment in pubs, a number of open-air concerts, street carnival and fireworks display.

Leixlip Salmon Festival Limited also provides a youth training scheme in association with FÁS.

[34] Le Chéile Athletic Club was founded in 2003, and trains at their facility at the Leixlip Amenities Centre.

The club's underage basketball teams compete in the Dublin Area Board League and Cup competitions.

[citation needed] Training and home matches take place at the Leixlip Amenities Centre, Confey GAA hall, and Colaiste Cois Life (Lucan).

The club also has a senior women's team competing in the Basketball Ireland Superleague and won their first National Cup in 2019.

[citation needed] Leixlip has been host to coarse fishing competitions, using a permanently pegged stretch of the Royal Canal.