[5] The area was called "Mon-au-Bealing" and Colman Mac ua Laoise, a disciple of St. Columba, established a monastery at Oughaval, close to the town and within the present-day parish.

[7] Samuel Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (published in 1837) records that the parish at that time contained "2392 inhabitants, of which number, 1799 are in the town".

Kildare was chosen at least partly on the grounds that the straightness of the roads would be a safety benefit.

The 520 kilometres (323 mi) race was won by the Belgian racer Camille Jenatzy, driving a Mercedes.

[16] Traction engines and other steam-powered vehicles are brought to the rally and displayed and demonstrated, and a steam railway offers rides along a short track.

It also operates narrow gauge steam railway in the grounds of Stradbally Hall.

Steam traction engines were in abundance in Stradbally after the turn of the last[clarification needed] century.

The line was changed to 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge and has been steadily expanded to a balloon loop since.

It also stated red as the color for American cars in the 1903 Gordon Bennett Cup.