Carlow County Museum

First floor gallery featuring the pulpit from Carlow Cathedral, among top 100 objects to see in a museum in Ireland

Carlow County Museum and Tourist Office is located in the former Presentation Convent, which was founded in 1811 at the junction of Tullow Street and College Street. The Convent remained here until 1989 and the legacy of their education ethos is still present in two of the town’s schools. To the side of the Cathedral of the Assumption the nuns’ graveyard can be viewed.

Carlow County Museum first floor gallery, formerly the Presentation Convent chapel

The Museum, spread over four exhibition galleries gives a snapshot of the archaeology and history of the county and its people. Among the items on display is the famous and magnificent 19th century hand carved pulpit from the next-door Cathedral of the Assumption. The ornate pulpit, standing 6 metres tall, was unveiled in the Cathedral in October 1899. It is the work of Flemish woodcarvers of the Guild of St. Luke the Artist in Bruges, Belgium. The ‘Dr. Comerford Memorial Pulpit’ was commissioned in the late 19th century by the Most Rev. Dr. Foley, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin in honour of his predecessor. The pulpit has been included in the book A History of Ireland in 100 Objects by Fintan O’Toole, making the pulpit among the top 100 items to view in an Irish museum.

The Museum recalls the county’s important education of St. Willibrord, one of Europe’s most important saints, who after twelve years in the county embarked on his major mission in 690. Today he is the Patron Saint of Luxembourg and the First Apostle of the Netherlands. View a copy of St. Willibrord’s own hand writing, the oldest datable signature of an English person, written on a book from County Carlow. View samples of the beautiful manuscripts that were produced in Echternach.

Carlow County Museum is operated by Carlow County Council in partnership with the Carlow Historical and Archaeological Society (C.H.A.S.). The Museum and Tourist Office is part of a complex that also houses the County Library which has a Local Studies Room and a Genealogy Service.

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• St. Columbanus, Myshall
• Relic of St. Willibrord, Carlow Cathedral
• St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Rathvilly
• Carlow County Museum
• Trail of the Saint’s – Google Maps
• About the Project
• Carlow Cathedral
• Carlow College
• Church of Ireland church
• Catholic Church of the Holy Rosary
• Old Leighlin – Seanleithghlinn
• St. Laserian’s Cathedral
• The holy well
• Leighlinbridge – Leithghlinn an Droichid
• Wells medieval parish church
• Dunleckny – Dún Leicne – Fort of the Hill Side
• Agha – Achadh – Field of the green tillage
• Agha Church
• Church of Ireland church
• Newtown – An Baile Nua
• St. Patrick’s Church
• Myshall – Míseal – Low Plain
• Romanesque church
• Catholic Church of Exaltation of the Holy Cross
• St. Brigid’s Well
• Adelaide Memorial Church
• Cranavane – Crann an Bháinin
• Holy Well at Cranavane
• Ballykealey – Baile Uí Chaollaí – O’ Kealy’s town
• Quaker graveyard and Lecky family graveyard
• Ballybrommell – Baile an Bhromailigh
• Quaker burial ground
• Nurney – An Urnaí – The Oratory
• St. John’s Church of Ireland Church
• Borris – An Bhuiríos – Burgage Land
• Borris House
• Sacred Heart Catholic Church
• The Catholic Girls’ School
• Ballinkillin – Baile an Chillín
• St. Laserian’s Catholic Church
• Lorum – Leamhdhroim – Ridge or Long Hill of the Mallows
• Church of Ireland church
• Ballinree – Baile an Fhraoigh – Town of the Heath
• Templemoling Cemetery
• Killoughternane – Cill Uchtarnáin – Church of Fortiarnán (Fortchern)
• St. Fortiarnán’s church
• St. Fortiarnán’s Holy Well
• St. Mullins – Tigh Moling – The House of Moling
• St. Mullins – ecclesiastical ruins
• St. Mullins – Holy Well
• Templenabo – Teampall na mBó – Church of the cow
• Graiguenamanagh – Gráig na Manach – The grange of the Monks
• Duiske Abbey
• Ullard – Iolard – Apple Garden
• Church and high cross
• Carlow’s churches
• Carlow’s convents
• Killeshin – Cill Uisean – the church of Uisean
• Romanesque Doorway
• Killeshin Catholic Church
• Ballinabranagh – Baile na mBreatnach
• St. Fintan’s Catholic Church
• Tinryland – Tigh an Raoilinn
• St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
• Kellistown – Cill Asna – St. Osnadh’s church
• Tullow – An Tulach – The Hill
• St. Columba’s Church of Ireland church
• Clonmore – Cluain Mhór – Great Meadow
• Bennekerry – Binn an Choire – Hill of the Sheep