Conollys Folly

The Conolly Folly, a.k.A. The Obelisk is an obelisk structure and National Monument positioned near Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland. The folly was constructed just out of doors Castletown Estate containing Castletown House, which incorporates two follies, each commissioned by Katherine Conolly, the philanthropic widow of Speaker William Conolly, at a value of £400 to provide employment for the terrible of Celbridge while the famine of 1740 to 41 became at its worst.

The Obelisk became constructed in 1740 after a mainly severe iciness. As a folly, it could be visible from the again of Castle metropolis some 4 kilometers away and it is constructed exactly perpendicular to the centre of the house. It became supposed to mark the rear entrance gateway to Castle town residence in conjunction with an avenue main to the residence. The folly became built on land that was near to, however now not on, the Conolly property. It consequently belonged to neighboring Carton, the house of the Fitz Gerald circle of relatives, Dukes of Leinster.