Introduction
County Carlow is one of Ireland’s hidden gems. It is a county rich in its archaeology and diversity of archaeological sites; distinctive in its architecture with its creative use of native Carlow granite.
It is a county whose documented history reflects its active involvement in every phase of early and medieval Irish history and whose natural physical beauty is one of Ireland’s best kept secrets.
But most surprising of all is the county’s central role in the monastic and ecclesiastic life of Ireland. From Agha Church to the monastic site of St. Mullins, the medieval settlement of Old Leighlin, the living traditions of Carlow’s saints, Moling and Laserian, Carlow offers a richness of heritage, a depth of specialist literature and an ease of access unlikely to be equalled in any other part of Ireland.
Dr. Maurice Manning
Chancellor, National University of Ireland (NUI)
and former President, Irish Human Rights Commission.
Carlow is a county with an exceptionally rich, spiritual and ecclesiastical heritage with a number of sites of national significance. These include the monastic site at St. Mullins, the Romanesque doorway at Killeshin, the medieval Cathedral of Old Leighlin, the eighteenth-century College and nineteenth-century Catholic Cathedral in Carlow and the exquisite Adelaide Memorial Church at Myshall. However, in developing a trail of Carlow’s religious history the intention has also been to take in examples of less well-known sites, to bring visitors to parts of the county that are less-travelled and introduce them to places which have an equally important place in the ecclesiastical history of the county. We do hope you enjoy your visit.
