Carlow

Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland and the River Barrow runs the length of it, which is the thread holding most of this list together. The twenty below start with a hundred tonne dolmen in a field outside the town and take in gardens, tower houses and a burnt out mansion. Ten more sit under the top ten.

Megalithic tomb · Carlow townBrownshill Portal DolmenThe granite capstone here weighs over a hundred tonnes, and it has been sitting in this field 3km east of Carlow town since the neolithic.

Ruin · Carlow townDuckett's GroveA Gothic revival mansion near Killerig burned out and was left standing. The turrets are up and two walled gardens sit beside it.

Garden · TullowAltamont GardensForty acres of garden and a lake south of Tullow, run by the OPW, with a beech walk that takes you down to the Slaney.

1. Huntington CastleCastle · ClonegalThe same family have lived in this 1625 tower house at Clonegal since it went up, and there is a yew walk through the garden.
2. MSt MullinsMonastic site · St MullinsThe high ground above the Barrow holds an early monastic site, with the stump of a round tower, church ruins and a Norman motte in the same ground.
3. Carlow CastleCastle · Carlow townTwo towers and the wall between them are all that is left of the 13th century Norman castle on the Barrow in Carlow town.
4. Borris HouseHouse and gardens · BorrisSeat of the MacMurrough Kavanaghs, a Tudor revival house above Borris village with a sixteen arch railway viaduct in the view.
5. Black Castle, LeighlinbridgeCastle · LeighlinbridgeThe tower and a length of bawn wall stand on the Barrow bank, beside a stone road bridge that dates to 1320.
6. Ballyloughan CastleRuin · BagenalstownFarmland east of Bagenalstown holds a 13th century gatehouse and hall, with a round tower on either side of the entrance.
7. South Leinster WayWalk · Borris104km of waymarked route from Kildavin through Borris, over the Barrow into Kilkenny and on to Carrick-on-Suir in Tipperary.

1. Garryhill HouseCastle or historic house · BagenalstownGarryhill House was built by the Earl of Bessborough (Viscount Duncannon) around 1740 on the site of the ancient Garryhill castle, originally built by Art Og Kavanagh, King of Leinster.
2. Carlow CathedralAbbey or church · Carlow TownLocated adjacent to St Patrick’s College in Carlow Town, this early 19th-century cathedral was the first to be built after Catholic emancipation.
3. Clonmore CastleAncient site · HacketstownClonmore Castle is a twelfth century fortress of roughly coursed granite rubble with extensive remodelling and additions.
4. Killeshin Romanesque DoorwayAbbey or church · KilleshinKilleshin derives its name from one of the abbots of its famous monastery Uisin, Gleann Uisin meaning the Glen of Uisin.
5. Leighlinbridge - Garden VillageGarden · LeighlinbridgeFound in Leighlinbridge, County Carlow, The Millennium Garden or Garden Village consists of seven small gardens, each with its own theme represented by trees, shrubs and stones.
6. Adelaide Memorial ChurchAbbey or church · MyshallIn the town of Myshall, about 30 minutes from Carlow Town, visitors can visit Adelaide Memorial Church, which is a scaled replica of the Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire, England.
7. The Garden at Hardymount HouseGarden · TullowHardymount Gardens comprise of 1 hectare of lawns and shrubs surrounded by magnificent beech and oak trees.
8. Bahana ForestForest park · CarlowBahana Forest is an old woodland parkland that slopes down to the banks of the Barrow River in County Carlow.
9. Ballymoon CastleAncient site · CarlowThis ruined castle dates back to the 14th Century.
10. Carlow Brewing CompanyMuseum · CarlowCome to Carlow Brewing Company in Bagenalstown to see how quality beer is made and when you are done taste the results.
11. Carlow County MuseumMuseum · CarlowCarlow County Museum in the centre of Carlow Town's Cultural Quarter, is a popular tourist attraction and local resource for anyone interested in Carlow's fascinating past.
12. County Carlow Military MuseumMuseum · CarlowThe County Carlow Military Museum is housed in a late 19th century Church in Carlow Town.
13. Croppies GraveAttraction · CarlowCroppies Grave is a monument, in Carlow Town, to the 640 slaughtered Carlow insurgents killed in the disastrous rising of the United Irishmen in 1798.
14. Herb Garden at Kilgraney HouseGarden · CarlowKilgraney House located near Bagenalstown, County Carlow.
15. KilloughternaneAbbey or church · CarlowThe 10th century oratory at Killoughternane is located on the site of an earlier church established by St Fortchern.
16. Liberty TreeAttraction · CarlowThe Liberty Tree, in Carlow Town, is a sculpture designed by John Behan commemorating the 1798 rebellion.
17. Saint Marys Church Of IrelandAbbey or church · CarlowBuilt in 1727, St Mary’s Church of Ireland is one of the gems of Carlow Town.
18. St Fiaac's Church ClonegalAbbey or church · CarlowSt Fiaac’s Church overlooks lovely Clonegal Village and the valley of the River Derry in County Carlow.
19. St Laserian's CathedralAbbey or church · CarlowSt Laserian’s is a wonderful example of a late 12th century cathedral found in Old Leighlin, about 15km south of Carlow Town.
20. St Moling's Trail - Driving RouteAbbey or church · CarlowThe beautiful Barrow Valley is the dominant physical landmark in this trail which covers the southern part of County Carlow.
21. St. Mullins Ecclesiastical VillageAbbey or church · CarlowIn 691 AD he was made Archbishop of Ferns.
22. St. Patrick's Trail - Driving RouteAbbey or church · Carlow
23. The Weavers CottagesCastle or historic house · CarlowThe Weavers Cottages in Clonegal village, County Carlow, are beautifully restored cottages.
24. Tullow MuseumMuseum · CarlowThe Tullow Museum is housed in an attractive, small stone, former church at the Slaney River Bridge, in County Carlow.
25. VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art and George Bernard Shaw TheatreGallery · CarlowSet on the grounds of Carlow College, Old Dublin Road, Carlow Town, VISUAL Centre Contemporary Art and George Bernard Shaw Theatre has welcomed thousands of visitors since it was opened in 2009.

• KildareCill Dara
• WicklowCill Mhantáin
• WexfordLoch Garman
• KilkennyCill Chainnigh
• LaoisLaois