Conolly's Folly

Georgian folly from the 18th century in County Kildare, Ireland

Conolly's Folly, also known as The Obelisk, is a Georgian structure near Celbridge, Leixlip and Maynooth in County Kildare, Ireland. Built in the mid-18th century by the Conolly family, owners of the Castletown Estate, it was reportedly constructed to provide employment for labourers during a famine. The arched structure topped with an obelisk is a classic example of a folly – a building with no practical purpose. Restored by the Irish Georgian Society, it is now a national monument in state care.