Jigginstown House
By Paddy Behan
Jigginstown, or Sigginstown House as it was also known, one of Kildare’s most prominent ruins, was constructed under the guidance of Thomas Wentworth. Wentworth was Earl of Stafford and was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland during the reign of Charles I. Stafford had planned the building with the idea that it could be home to the king on royal visits to Ireland. Whether this would have been accepted by the king is debatable. Stafford was accused of treason by enemies in the House of Commons never lived to see if indeed he housed a king, as he was sentenced to death and died on the scaffold.