Carlow
Travel Guide

Carlow

Le Carlow Castle - Feckr - cc

Explore Carlow

Tourist attractions

Archaeological sites 1Castles 1Dolmens 1Megaliths in Ireland 1

Accomodations

Accommodations 2Cottages en Irlande 1Hotels 1
Tourist attractions Irish Restaurants and Pubs Partner Accommodations Campgrounds and Lodging

Carlow : Must-See Attractions

dolmen brownshill 1

Dolmens

Brownshill Dolmen

Just three kilometres from Carlow, an immense granite slab seems to hover above a meadow. Brownshill Dolmen, also known as Brownshill Portal…

3.03/5 (187 reviews)
carlow castle 1

Castles

Carlow Castle

Carlow Castle is a 13th-century Anglo-Norman fortified castle in Carlow town center. Situated close to the Burren and Barrow rivers, all that…

3.33/5 (6 reviews)
Where to stay?

Accommodation Check it out

Find a comfortable place to stay and make the most of your trip to Ireland.

View all accommodations — new tab
Learn more

Carlow

Carlow (Ceatharlach in Irish) is a small medieval Irish town in the county of the same name. The town is renowned for its many castles and buildings dating back to Carlow’s medieval past. Most are open to the public, and are well worth a visit for anyone with an appreciation of medieval Ireland…

History of Carlow

Carlow, a town founded in the 12th century

Carlow is said to have been founded in 1180 by William the Marshal, Earl of Pembroke and King of Leinster. The town was built 90km south-west of Dublin, on the River Barrow, in order to fortify a passage at river level and regulate and monitor the comings and goings of the Irish on the Barrow.

In the course of Carlow’s history, several castles were successively built between the 14th and 17th centuries:

  • Ballyloughan Castle,
  • Ballymoon Castle,
  • Leighlinbridge Castle
  • and Tower House.

St Patrick’s College was also built in 1793 to provide a high-quality education.