Carlow for tourists.

byhookorbycrook

I find that many Carlow people aren't aware of places in their own county
or surrounds.

Local history is a passion of mine and I've worked out a few "historic and holy places" routes(with a few pubs thrown in along the way)

Trip one:Carlow town ,the famine plot, the castle, the croppy grave in Graigue ,Oakpark, out the road through Oakpark to the high crosses ,round tower, viking burial in Castledermot .
(stop at Doyles pub, near the old school)
On the Tulllow road, a stop at the knights templar church in Killerig, turn left at Killerig and head for the Haroldstown dolmen. On the Hacketstown road, turn for Clonmore and the castle etc, pub stop. Cross country to Ballyconnell (take in the ring of the rath, perchance) food at Rathwood. On to Tullow, Nancy Foran's pub, visit Fr John in the square and head out the Ballon road. Quick visit to Altamount gardens and back to Ballon, next stop Ballykeally house. If possible, park the car on the road and walk down the fam road to Kepples, where Fr John Murphy spent his last night in a stable, tradition has it that the stable he slept in has a cure for sick animals. Back towards Carlow at Kilmeany turn and go cross country to Ducketts grove (via the towers) retrace steps back to the Browneshill dolmen. Pick of pubs in the town, teach Dolmain is where I tend to head.


SO, challenge down to the natives to do another itinerary!!

shotgun mike

The Dancing Boards up in Killeshin. The site of many a conquest

byhookorbycrook

one site (no matter how many conquests) is not an itinerary!!!!!

But as you mention Killeshin
The Hiberno Romanesque Archway at the old church, drive up the hill take the right fork, mass rock in field to your right, haven't been around the resevoir for awhile but always worth a look.
Back down to the fork, continue uphill to the boards and view from the top of the ridge.
Down to Ballinabranna and the John Tyndall connection, over to Milford and see where electricity was (and is still generated) that allowed Carlow to be one of the first in-land towns in Ireland to be lit by electricity. Proceed to main road and turn right at Milford cross, drive down to the "wellies" stop and explain about the seat of the king of south Leinster in nearby Dinn Ri. Lord Bagnal for some nosh, Brennnans on the bridge for a pint.The Black castle

Takethe road over the bridge and turn left. Just before this road meets the main Carlow-Kilkenny road ,if you park on the lefthandside by the chestnut trees and look over the wall (don't go in, it's a stud and mares and foals don't like to be bothered) you will see a tree covered mound in the centre of the field. This is the original Dinn Rí.

Follow the main road until the turn for Old Leighlin. The cathedral here must be the most neglected gem in Ireland. Walk up the road next to the cathedral to the holy well.The water is supposed to have a cure for sore eyes, hang some "offering" on the hawthorn by the well.

Next stop, pint at the Royal Oak. Into Bagnalstown and head for Dunleckny manor, if it is open. Back in by Green road and the Famine Plot on Green road.

DarrenMSP

This is very cool! I'm a massive fun of all the history Carlow has to offer and woud love to see this made into something useful for people coming to Carlow. Could you possibly edit the first post so it is a clean list like this?

Carlow Town

• Croppies Grave
• Castle
• Dolmen
• ETC

Tullow

• Example

byhookorbycrook

will do at some stage soon, but like the pub-crawl aspect!