Carlow Town walk
The following walk takes us by many fine buildings and takes approximately one hour.
1. Carlow Courthouse at the end of Dublin Street is where our tour begins. Considered to be one of the finest courthouses in the country it was designed by William Vitruvius Morrison in 1830.The Courthouse, based on the Temple of Llissus in Athens, gives the impression of being a temple set on a high plinth, but this obscures the fact that the basement is a maze of cells and dungeons. An interesting story is associated with Carlow Court House. It was apparently intended for Cork city, but the plans got mixed up and so Carlow gained Cork’s intended impressive Court House. A cannon from the Crimean War stands on the steps.
Walk south-east down College Street to St. Patrick’s College.
St. Patrick's College
2. Built before the French Revolution, Carlow College is one of Ireland's oldest educational institutions. The college first opened its doors to students five years before the Irish rebellion of 1798. Originally founded as a lay college, Carlow functioned as a college of the humanities and a seminary from 1793 to 1892. From 1892 until 1989 it was principally a seminary for the education of priests. During its 200 year old history Carlow College has educated generations of politicians, priests, poets and leaders in the public life of their day. Distinguished among its past students were James Fintan Lalor, the Fenian John O' Leary, pioneering priests in Australia and America John Therry and John England, the poet Richard D'Alton Williams and the impressionist artist Frank O' Meara.
3. Carlow Cathedral - located immediately beside St. Patrick’s College.
Carlow Cathedral
The Cathedral, started in 1828 and completed in 1833, at a cost of £9,000.00, was the brain-child of the energetic Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, James Doyle - J.K.L., the prominent champion of Catholic emancipation. The design of the Cathedral is attributed largely to Thomas Cobden, who drew his inspiration for the Carlow building from European models, particularly the Beftroi tower in Bruges, Belgium. Its magnificent tower and lantern, in all its 150 feet, lift it above the ordinary. Local granite and limestone were used in its construction. It is a monument to the unflinching faith and courage of JKL who died the year after the Cathedral was opened and who lies interred in its walls. The Cathedral also houses an acclaimed statue by John Hogan to Bishop Doyle, considered to be his greatest achievement.
Walk further south and turn right into Tullow Street. Take the first turn to the left.
4. The Liberty Tree commemorates the 1798 rebellion. It was designed by John Behan who has skilfully created a fine memorial and an ambience round which people gather to relax in the Summer months.
Turn back into Tullow Street.
5. This is the main shopping street in Carlow and has been pedestrianised in recent years. The houses that contain the many shops on this street still have some historical and architectural importance, retaining their original uppers.
Cross Dublin Street onto Castle Street.
6. St. Mary’s Church of Ireland. This church dates from 1727, though the tower and spire, reaching 195 feet were added in 1834. The interior retains its traditional galleries. There are also several monuments including ones by Sir Richard Morrison, the important neo-classical architect.
Walk westwards down Castle Hill. Carlow Castle may be seen from the lane (Mill Lane) on the southside of Castle Hill.
7. Carlow Castle, now a ruin stands on the eastern bank of the River Barrow. It is thought to be have been built by William de Marshal, Earl of Pembroke and Lord of Leinster between 1207 and 1213 and is similar in design to Ferns Castle in Co. Wexford. At one time Carlow was an important and strong military fortress strategically sited at the confluence of the rivers and the castle withstood repeated attacks in 1494 and 1641. Today, two battered towers and part of an intervening wall are all that remain after a local physician tried to remodel it as an asylum in 1814. In an effort to demolish the interior he placed explosive charges at its base and demolished all but the west wall and towers.
8. Graiguecullen bridge is one of the oldest and lowest bridges on the River Barrow. An attractive five arched stone structure, this bridge was built in 1569 and widened in 1815. A short walk down the west side of the Barrow brings you to the lock gates.
At the traffic lights on Graiguecullen bridge turn right.
Visitors will enjoy a trip to Graiguecullen town park, a 12.8 acre site on the banks of the River Barrow completed to the highest standards with a host of amenities for all the family. Children's play area open 08.00 a.m. - 8.30 p.m. during Summer months, 7 days per week. 08.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. rest of year. Winner of the 2004 All Ireland Riverside Amenity Award in the Tidy Towns Competition.
Return to Graiguecullen bridge, turn right and proceed through the traffic lights.
9. St. Clare’s Roman Catholic Church, Graiguecullen, built in 1852 by John Derrick, was dismantled at its original site on the Athy road and re-erected on its present Killeshin road site.
Returning in the direction of town, turn left at the traffic lights into Chapel Street. Croppies Gave is at the end of the street on the right hand side.
10. The Croppies Grave. A handsome monument rises above the site of an old sand pit where in the aftermath of the disastrous rising of the United Irishmen in 1798, the bodies of 640 slaughtered Carlow insurgents were thrown and covered with quick lime in a mass grave. The Croppies was the name given to the United Irishmen after the habit of cropping their hair to mark their allegiance. The monument stands as testimony to those who gave their lives to further the cause of freedom from a harsh regime.
The Croppies Grave
Cross the bridge, turn left and walk east along the curiously named Centaur Street.
Carlow Town Hall
11. On the north side of the Haymarket is the Town Hall designed by the Church architect William Hague in 1884. Immediately opposite is the Millennium Bridge which spans the River Barrow. The Haymarket was the trading centre for Carlow. A number of markets dotted around the town - the Potato Market and Butter Market, for example, indicate the strong agricultural focus of the town.
12. Continue east until you reach Dublin Street. Turn right for a few paces until you reach the “Cigar Divan”. The only other cigar divan is in Mallow, Co. Cork but this is the older of the two. It has a Victorian shop front with elaborate iron panels below the windows and several engraved glass advertisements. Its name dates from the time when Turkish cigarettes were highly fashionable.
These are just sample tours of what Carlow county has to offer. Other itineraries tailor made to suit time requirements or the needs of particular groups and clubs may be obtained from Carlow Tourism via e-mail.
