Carlow

Until the late 19th century, Carlow in Ireland was a small rural town. However, the population grew rapidly in the 1960s and 1970s with the draining of Carlow’s many marshes. Carlow is now an expanding market town within commuting distance of Dublin.

Carlow Castle was built by William Marshal , Earl of Striguil (1146-1219). It was erected to guard a strategic ford on the River Barrow between Leinster and Munster. The castle has fine carvings on its main door as well as portholes along the curtain wall that allow views into the inner courtyard. It features coats-of-arms carved into stone above windows and other carvings, as well as carvings commemorating the battles William Marshal fought in. Underneath the castle is an enormous dungeon where prisoners were kept before they were brought up for trial at the court within the castle walls. Today, Carlow Castle is open to tour groups; guided tours are available during summer months.

St. Patrick’s Bridge (also called St Patrick’s Street Bridge) over the River Barrow was built in 1816 by William Hill made of cast iron and Portland stone. It was originally only wide enough for carriages but it now has carriageway widened to accommodate two lanes of traffic on either side of a wider central pedestrian walkway with railway tracks underneath it. The bridge has seven segmental arches eachwith a span of 36 feet (11 metres). It is unique compared to other bridges in Ireland because it has nine cutwaters instead of the usual three. Thomas Rhodes Armetriding designed St Patrick’s Bridge which was cast by William Edwards.

St. Patrick’s Bridge over the River Barrow won an award for George Wilkinson, who created wrought iron railings for this bridge and several others. Wilkinson started off as a carpenter before becoming a noted metalworker/engineer whose works included many notable public buildings such as Covent Garden Theatre and Chatsworth House . He established a business with his son near Birmingham where he died at the age of 94.

St. Mary’s Collegiate Church , on College Street, was built around 1200AD by William Marshall, Earl of Striguil. Parts of the church are currently used by Carlow’s Church of Ireland congregation, while other parts are in ruins. The carvings on the old oak choir stalls are particularly interesting; carvings include a bishop with his cat at his feet and carvings of animals around stairs leading to an upper level where carvings depict abstract figures.

The Carlow Courthouse on Parliament Street was designed by Thomas Cobden and built in 1816. It is a simple, symmetrical building with carvings of lions as part of its iron railings as well as carvings of battlements along the roofline.

Created: 24  October  2021  Edited: 29  November  2023