In an article on the Kildare.ie history website in 2011, Seamus Cullen notes the various visits by English royalty to the county, and mentions

'On her second trip to Ireland in 1861 Queen Victoria travelled to the Curragh Camp where her son and heir the Prince of Wales and future King Edward VII, was undergoing a period of military instruction at the Camp. One of the highlights of the occasion was when the Queen inspected a grand review of all the troops in the Camp. During the visit she was entertained by a piper from the locality, and as a gesture of thanks she presented him with a set of silver mouthed Irish pipes.

'During the period when Prince Edward was stationed in the Curragh, the Aylmer Tower was under construction on the summit of the Hill of Allen. The Prince could clearly see the structure from the Camp and in September 1861, he visited the site from which he could see panoramic views of virtually the entire county of Kildare and the Wicklow mountains. Edward made many subsequent visits to Ireland and attended Punchestown Races on a number of occasions.' From a reference further on in the article, the Prince would appear to have made one or more informal visits to Maynooth during this time.

'As King in 1904 he (Edward) attended the two day event at Punchestown and was accompanied by his wife Queen Alexandria on the first day. The royal party arrived in Naas by train each day to an awaiting coach. Bands played and crowds cheered as their entourage made its way through the town and on to the races. It was a lavish occasion in which Switzers of Dublin fashioned arches across the Main Street of Naas and the Royal coat of arms was draped on the courthouse.

'King Edward accompanied by the Queen paid a private visit to Maynooth College on 24 July 1903. The royal party were cordially cheered as they drove from the train station through the town to the College gates. They were welcomed by a substantial number of Irelands leading Catholic bishops and red carpets covered the stone floors of the cloisters. The Royal couple visited the Chapel and in the sacristy were shown a set of robes presented to the College by the late Empress Elizabeth of Austria. During the visit the King reminded his hosts of a visit he made to the college on a previous occasion.

 

THE VISIT OF KING GEORGE V

King George V also visited Maynooth College shortly after he ascended the throne in 1911. Accompanied by his wife Queen Mary, the royal party were driven by motor car from the Vice Regal Lodge to Maynooth where they were greeted by a massive crowd of people who lined the main Street as the royal entourage passed. At the entrance to the college the Royal party were greeted by Cardinal Logue and virtually the entire aristocracy of the Irish Catholic Church.  The King and Queen were brought on a tour of the College similar to the previous royal visit.

However, the visit occurred during a period of national revival when nationalism in the country was at fever pitch and there were some opposition in Maynooth to the visit with the local band split on the issue.  The previous day there was a nationalist pilgrimage to Bodenstown where sentiments of opposition to the royal visit were also expressed.

 

To read Seamus Cullen's entire entire article, go to Visits throughout history by English Monarchs to County Kildare