Driving the Trails

Dear Visitor

We are delighted that you have chosen to explore Co. Carlow in south-east Ireland and its wealth of religious sites. “Carlow – Trails of the Saints” is made up of three separate driving routes which between them cover the entire county of Carlow and feature some 51 ecclesiastical attractions. Many of these are deemed to be of national significance including for example the Romanesque doorway at Killeshin, the medieval cathedral at Old Leighlin and the monastic site at St. Mullins. The intention has also been to feature less well-known sites, which have however, an equally important place in the ecclesiastical history of the county. All of the sites are rich and varied and have been selected to allow you discover the special peace and spirituality which encapsulates this county, and the characters and people who moulded its ecclesiastical landscape.

St. Patrick’s Trail in the northern part of the county covers a distance of 77 km (48 miles) while St. Laserian’s Trail in mid-Carlow is 69 km (43 miles) in length. St. Moling´s Trail which takes in south Co. Carlow is 70 km (44 miles). All routes feature a mix of regional and country roads. All of the towns featured have a full range of banking, postal and hospitality services to meet the needs of the visitor.

Each route is prefaced by a map with all attractions numbered and linked to the text which follows. A glossary of ecclesiastical terms feature in the introduction section of this website and each term is also identified within the text by the following symbol . A downloadable mapping facility suitable for Sat-Nav usage also features on this website, allowing you to  navigate your way from one site to the next with ease.

Each trail can be comfortably driven in a day. However, with three trails to experience we encourage you to relax, overnight and enjoy the fascinating history of Carlow’s ecclesiastical heritage at a leisurely pace.

 Romanesque: Style of early medieval architecture characterised by round arches. Sometimes called “Norman”.

• 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