Carlow County Museum

Carlow County Museum College Street Carlow The County Museum is housed in the former Presentation Convent on College Street, just off Tullow Street, the main street of Carlow Town.

The building is in a prime town centre location and is part of a complex that also houses the Tourist Office and the County Library. Carlow County Museum is operated by Carlow County Council in association with the Carlow Historical & Archaeological Society (C.H.A.S.). Among the items on display is the famous and magnificent 19th century hand carved pulpit from Carlow Cathedral. The pulpit has bee

n included in the book ‘A History of Ireland in 100 Objects’ by Fintan O’Toole, winner of the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards 2013 ‘Best Irish-published Book of the Year’. The pulpit is over 20ft tall and is made entirely of oak. Also on view is the original gallows trapdoor from the Carlow Gaol which was used during the 19th century for public executions. See the wooden smoking pipe of Captain Myles Keogh, who was killed at the infamous Battle of Little Big Horn in 1876. Myles was among the last to be killed in the battle and his horse Comanche survived the battle. Find out about the great 19th century scientist John Tyndall who was the first person to discover the greenhouse effect and has a peak in the Alps named after him. The Museum is home to the remains of the last cigarette smoked by Kevin Barry, a medical student from Co. Carlow was executed in 1920 in Mountjoy Gaol, Dublin at the age of 18 for his role in the Irish War of Independence. The latest installation in the Museum is a Stained Glass Panel, by Artist Peadar Lamb, which depicts a Carlow narrative of the 1916 Rising. The Cultural Quarter of the town runs from Tullow Street along College Street to the Old Dublin Road encompassing not just the Museum & Tourist Office but also the Visual Centre for Contemporary Art & The George Bernard Shaw Theatre; Carlow College, County Library, the Cathedral of the Assumption and the magnificent early nineteenth century Carlow Courthouse. Visual displays a variety of artistic displays throughout the year. The George Bernard Shaw Theatre is named after one of Ireland’s greatest writers and whose mother hails from Carlow. Carlow College is Ireland’s second oldest third level institution and is home to the Carlow Art Collection. Visit Carlow County Museum and see what you are missing, admission is free. Free Admission, open all year round. https://carlowcountymuseumblog.wordpress.com/

As a mark of respect to our much loved and recently deceased colleague, Dermot Mulligan, the County Museum will remain c...
02/06/2026

As a mark of respect to our much loved and recently deceased colleague, Dermot Mulligan, the County Museum will remain closed at this time.

As a mark of respect to our much loved and recently deceased colleague, Dermot Mulligan, the County Museum will remain closed at this time.

Carlow County Museum

We are delighted to be at Bloom! 🌿🌹🪻 Find us at the Carlow Tourism stand G22 in the Grand Pavillion. Call by and say H...
29/05/2026

We are delighted to be at Bloom! 🌿🌹🪻
Find us at the Carlow Tourism stand G22 in the Grand Pavillion.
Call by and say Hello!

Carlow Historical and Archaeological Society Carlow County Council Carlow Nationalist KCLR96FM All About Carlow

Yesterday, Tuesday May 26th the town of Ville d'Echternach , , hosted their annual UNESCO Hopping Procession in honour...
27/05/2026

Yesterday, Tuesday May 26th the town of Ville d'Echternach , , hosted their annual UNESCO Hopping Procession in honour of Carlow trained St Willibrord, Patron Saint of Luxembourg. Cllr Ken Murnane, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council , Cllr Paul Doogue, Mayor of the Municipal District of , and Michael Brennan, Director of Services, along with Her Excellency Jean McDonald, Ireland’s Ambassador to Luxembourg, Irish Foreign Ministry , participated in the centuries old procession. They were formally welcomed to Echternach by Mayor Carole Hartmann and the Willibrord Society (who supplied the photos).



Embassy of Ireland, Luxembourg Embassy of Luxembourg in Dublin Kildare & Leighlin Diocese Diocese of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory Carlow Historical and Archaeological Society Carlow Public Participation Network - PPN Carlow County Library Carlow Tourism Carlow Nationalist KCLR96FM National Museum of Ireland Irish Museums Association Local Authority Museums Network

Today, Luxembourg’s oldest town, Echternach celebrates its ecclesiastical heritage by hosting its centuries old UNESCO ...
26/05/2026

Today, Luxembourg’s oldest town, Echternach celebrates its ecclesiastical heritage by hosting its centuries old UNESCO Hopping Procession, all in honour of Carlow trained St Willibrord, Patron Saint of Luxembourg and the First Apostle of the Netherlands.

St Willibrord was an Anglo-Saxon, who spent twelve years here in County Carlow being trained and ordained for a mission to Europe. He left Carlow in 690 AD and he is revered to this day across Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and western Germany. He and his colleagues had a major impact in their area of mission. He is buried in the crypt of the Basilica of St Willibrord in the town of Echternach. He established a major European monastery and scriptorium in Echternach and the Benedictine monks were still in the monastery until the late 18th century.
The importance and impact of Irish and Carlow monks is very important in his story. He is honoured each year with a UNESCO World Heritage Status ‘Hopping Procession’ in his honour, where on the Tuesday after Pentecost Sunday, thousands of people, hop from one foot to the other through the streets of Echternach in his honour.
Since 2000 there is active engagement between Carlow and Echternach and for most of that time the project is coordinated through the Museum.


Carlow County Council Embassy of Luxembourg in Dublin Embassy of Ireland, Luxembourg Kildare & Leighlin Diocese Carlow Heritage Office Carlow Historical and Archaeological Society The Heritage Council Carlow County Library Carlow Tourism

This weekend sees the Rás Tailteann Cycle Race taking place, Ireland’s International Cycle race. It returns to County ...
22/05/2026

This weekend sees the Rás Tailteann Cycle Race taking place, Ireland’s International Cycle race. It returns to County with two stage starts, one on Saturday May 23rd, and again on Sunday May 24th from 10:30am at offices of Carlow County Council .
It’s always worth seeing the grand departure of these cyclists. County Carlow has very strong connections to the Rás, most notably in 1973 when Carlow’s Mike O’Donaghue won the Rás in 1973. We display one of his Tayto Yellow Jersey and his woollen Carlow tri-colour jersey and his track bike.
Pictured is Mike winning a Stage of the 1969 Rás Tailteann on the Staplestown Road in his hometown of Carlow.
Pop in and see some sporting heritage. Admission is Free.
Watch here at https://youtu.be/lc2JN0Ve5vQ?si=eylvfKTogYPtsx4c


Carlow Tourism Active Carlow Carlow County Library Carlow Historical and Archaeological Society Carlow Public Participation Network - PPN Carlow Nationalist KCLR96FM All About Carlow National Museum of Ireland Museums Association

For International Museum's Day 2026 we truly went International at Carlow County Museum as we welcomed students from Mis...
22/05/2026

For International Museum's Day 2026 we truly went International at Carlow County Museum as we welcomed students from Missouri who are spending a semester Carlow College, St. Patrick's .
We were delighted to welcome you to the Museum and enjoy your time in Carlow!


Carlow County Council Carlow County Library Carlow Tourism National Museum of Ireland Irish Museums Association Local Authority Museums Network All About Carlow

22/05/2026
As part of the recent Pan Celtic International Festival 2026 our colleagues Carlow County Council had an number of del...
18/05/2026

As part of the recent Pan Celtic International Festival 2026 our colleagues Carlow County Council had an number of delegations visiting the county, including from María de Heurva in Spain, and from Trollhattan in Sweeden.
We were delighted to give them a guided tour of the Museum, which included a Borris Lacemakers demonstration, who had a display here for the Pan Celtic Festival. Thanks to Carlow Tourism for these photos.


Irish Museums Association Local Authority Museums Network All About Carlow

It's the weekend!!Did you know we are open from 10.00am to 1.00pm and from 1.30pm to 4.30pm on Saturdays.Last admission ...
15/05/2026

It's the weekend!!
Did you know we are open from 10.00am to 1.00pm and from 1.30pm to 4.30pm on Saturdays.
Last admission is 30 minutes before closing and ... of course .. admission is FREE! 🤩

Visit Us and See What You are Missing!
www.carlowmuseum.com

Tabhair cuairt orainn agus féach cad atá in easnamh ort!Tá ceithre ghailearaí taispeántais ag Músaem Chontae Cheatharlac...
14/05/2026

Tabhair cuairt orainn agus féach cad atá in easnamh ort!
Tá ceithre ghailearaí taispeántais ag Músaem Chontae Cheatharlach, an dá cinn is mó dár mbailiúcháin bhuana agus úsáidtear an dá ghailearaí níos lú le haghaidh taispeántais shealadacha.
Eolas ag www.carlowmuseum.com

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College Street
Carlow

Telephone

+353599131554

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