LEIGHLINBRIDGE:

Is an attractive Barrow-side town with the Black Castle on its eastern side. One of the earliest Norman castles in Ireland, all that remains of the original Castle is the west half of the tower approximately 50 feet high, and part of the bawn wall. The original Black Castle was erected by Hugh de Lacy in 1181, while the present castle is reported to have been built by Sir Edward Bellingham in 1547.
Below the castle lies the ruin of the first Carmelite priory in Ireland which was built by the Norman, Carew in 1270. The focal point of Leighlinbridge is its valerian bearded bridge, built in 1320 by Maurice Jakis. This nine arch bridge is one of the oldest functioning bridges in Europe and was one of the most important river crossings in Ireland for more than 100 years.

Situated at the northern entrance to the village is a sculpture by Michael Warren, which depicts the thrones of the ancient seat of the Kings of South Leinster at Dinn Righ - "The hill of the Kings". This sculpture serves as a reminder that the Kings of Leinster lived adjacent to the village.

Leighlinbridge is noted for the number of famous sons it has produced, including Captain Myles Keogh, the scientist John Tyndall, the former archbishop of Sydney Patrick Francis Moran and the Right Hon. Brian Mulroney, Prime Minister of Canada from 1984 - 1992 whose family hailed from Leighlinbridge. All are commemorated in a Garden of Remembrance constructed on the banks of the River Barrow in the village.

 

Leighlinbridge has been the recipient of many environmental awards in recent times including county and regional winner in the National Tidy Towns Competition , first in the Barrow Awards, overall national winner in Ireland's Green Town 2000 and the village has also received a gold medal in the prestigious European Entente Florale competition in 2001.

VISITOR ACCOMMODATION:

The Lord Bagenal Inn
Leighlinbridge
Co. Carlow
Tel: + 353 (0) 503 21668
Fax: + 353 (0) 503 22629
Website: www.lordbagenal.com
Email: info@lordbagenal.com

VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:

Arboretum Garden Centre
Kilkenny Road
Leighlinbridge
Co. Carlow
Tel: + 353 (0) 503 21558
Website: www.carlow-ceb.com/arboretum
Email: arboretum@eircom.net

A state of the art garden centre with an extensive range of quality plants, trees, shrubs, hand crafted furniture, hot tubs and giftware. An Bord Glas Winner since 1991. The Arboretum offers a new concept in today's gardening world. Its stunning location close to the River Barrow coupled with direct access off the Carlow - Kilkenny (N9) road makes shopping at Arboretum a delightful experience. The Mulberry Restaurant offers fresh, local produce combined with an exclusive and unique range of satisfying flavours which ensure a relaxing and tasteful meal or snack. 9.5 km from Carlow near Leighlinbridge on the N9 to Kilkenny.

 

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