3 towns in Kildare among the most populated in Ireland following rapid growth

The population in Kildare has grown by a substantial amount in the last number of years, and that is set to continue during the coming years according to the latest figures released from last year's Census. The population of Kildare was recorded at 222,130 last year - 11,818 more than in 2011 - and it is increasingly becoming a destination for people from further down the country who are looking to set up a home close to Dublin for work. The latest Census figures revealed that Kildare was the most popular destination for people looking to move out from Dublin, as 15.9 per cent of the people moving from Dublin chose to relocate to Kildare. A total of 2,974 people from the capital set up in Kildare during the first four months of 2016, while Meath was the second most popular county as 2,602 residents in Dublin moved out to the Royal County. Newbridge is the 10th biggest town in the country at present, and the largest in Kildare, with a current population of 22,742 compared to 21,561 in 2011. Naas is now the 13th most populated town in Ireland with 21,393 residents compared to 20,713 in 2011, while Celbridge comes in at number 16 on the list following a rise from 19,537 to 20,288. The most populated town in the country at the time of the last Census was Drogheda, with a recorded figure of 40,956 people living in the Co Louth town.