Co. Carlow, South East

Carlow’s character and charm is within easy reach of Dublin, yet the city influence is kept at bay with a lively sense of place.  Although it is Ireland's second smallest county, it confidently incorporates such wonderful varieties of scenery that it has been memorably commented that the Creator was in fine form when He made Carlow.

Whether you're lingering along the gentle meanderings of the waterway of the River Barrow, or enjoying the upper valley of the River Slaney while savouring the soaring outlines of the Blackstairs Mountains as they sweep upwards to the 793 m peak of Mount Leinster, this gallant little area will soon have you in thrall.

There's history a-plenty if you wish to seek it out. But for those who prefer to live in the present, the county town of Carlow itself fairly buzzes with student life and the energetic trade of a market centre which is also home to a micro-brewery that, among other admirable products, is the source of the award-winning O’Hara’s Stout.

With the main roads much improved in recent years, a more leisurely pace can be enjoyed at riverside villages such as Leighlinbridge and Bagenalstown. Leighlinbridge - pronounced "Lochlinbridge" – has for many years been Carlow's most community-conscious riverside village, the holder of a Tidy Towns Gold Medal and an Entente Floriale winner.

There are also welcome improvements taking place to fulfill Bagenalstown's potential as a proper miniature river port, while the hidden hillside village of Borris is an enchantment in itself.



Local Attractions and Information

Carlow - VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art at the George Bernard Shaw Theatre presents the work of a balanced mixture of local, national international artists.

Carlow Eigse – Arts Festival (June) +353 (0)59 9140491

Carlow town Tourist Information +353 (0)59 9131554

Carlow county Carlow Rural Tourism +353 (0)59 9130411/9130446

Carlow Craft Brewery Micro-brewery +353 (0)59 9134356

Tullow Altamont Gardens +353 (0)59 9159444

Gardens

Kilfane Glen & Waterfall - Thomastown County Kilkenny Ireland
Kilfane Glen & Waterfall
Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny
Kilfane is Ireland’s answer to Marie Antoinette’s Petit Trianon. This rediscovered treasure of gardening history was originally designed in the 1790s in the fashionably romantic style to embellish the gothic wonders of nature. Paths a ...

Golf

Coolattin Golf Club - Coollattin Shillelagh Arklow Co Wicklow Ireland
Coolattin Golf Club
Arklow, Co. Wicklow
Course Type: Parkland
Coollattin Golf Club is a Peter McEvoy designed par 70 championship parkland golf course that is surrounded by scenic views of the Wicklow countryside. Coollattin is a challenging course that prides itself as an oasis of calm in a truly beaut ...

Self Catering

Blanchville House - Self Catering - Maddoxtown County Kilkenny Ireland
The Coachyard & Gardener's Cottage at Blanchville House
Maddoxtown, Co. Kilkenny
The delightful Victorian Coach House in the grounds of Blanchville House has been sensitively converted to provide three very comfortable self-catering units. Situated five miles (8km), 10 minute's drive from the Medieval City of Kilkenny and ...

What's On

Kilkenny Farmers Market - Every Thursday
Event Name:    Kilkenny Farmers Market - Every Thursday, 9.30am - 2.30pm

at Mayors Walk, The Parade, Kilkenny City, Kilkenny

Event Details:   ...

Tourist Attractions

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Dwyer McAllister Cottage
Donard, Co. Wicklow
Dwyer McAllister Cottage is is a cottage dedicated to the memory of Michael Dwyer, a celebrated 1798 leader. The cottage nestles in the shade of Kaedeen mountain at the top of a grassy lane off the Donard to Rathdangan road and it was here in win ...

Wedding Venues

Mount Juliet Hotel - Wedding Venue Thomastown County Kilkenny Ireland
Mount Juliet
Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny
Lying amongst 1500 acres of unspoilt woodland, pasture and formal gardens in a walled estate beside the River Nore, this Georgian Manor is an 18th century gem - a charming and graceful house, very traditional in style with beautifully restored or ...
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