Carlow Town Centre: A detail from map showing Municipal Boundary changes.

Detail from a pre-ordnance survey map of Municipal Boundary changes in Carlow Town, executed by Thomas A. Larcom, Lieut. Royal Engineers. It accompanies a “Report upon the proposed Municipal Boundary of Carlow” by Thomas R. Mould. This detail shows Carlow Gaol, the R.C. Cathedral (R.C. Chapel)

Carlow County Library

County Carlow Infirmary, Front Elevation 1838

The County Carlow Infirmary was designed by architect John B. Keane in 1838. It consisted of two floors. The Surgery, post operative wards for males and females, Matron’s quarters, kitchen and larder and the ‘Dead House’ were on the ground floor. The upper floor contained three male wards, two female wards and a nurses ward. There were separate courtyards for males and females out of doors.The image shows the central portion of the building designed in the Jacobean style. It was flanked by two gabled wings. Over each window was a drip mould.The builder for the project was James Johnston. The building has since been demolished.

Parsonstown Workhouse

Parsonstown Workhouse was built in 1842 to accommodate 700 inmates. Like all of the workhouses built after the passage of the 1838 Poor Law it was built to a standard Neo-Gothic Design. Male and Female quarters were separate . The workhouse was built to deal with the growing problem of poverty in 19th century Ireland. The Workhouse was managed by a Board of Guardians made up typically of prominent local landlords and businessmen. They met weekly to discuss the day to day management of the workhouse. Minutes of these meetings show that they were concerned with such matters as ordering of provisions

Kanturk Castle, Co. Cork

Duckett's Grove entrance gate

The entrance to Duckett's Grove is an elaborate castellated gateway. It features numerous battlemented towers. Two great archways open onto two different drives. The main archway has a portcullis and is surmounted by an immense armorial achievement which was originally coloured. The arms of the Duckett family is also featured at the entrance to Duckett's Grove.

Carlow County Library

Ducketts Grove - armorial bearings

Shown here is the Coat of Arms of the Duckett family which is placed over the entrance gate to Ducketts’ Grove. The arms display the motto “spectemor agendo” which means, “let us be judged by our actions”. The shield is topped by a helmet with plumes, with a lamb to the left and a gargoyle to the right. Two eagles are placed one on either side of the shield of sixteen divisions. One of the eagles is without its head. The arms are surrounded by decorative columns and arches with drip moulds ending in human head figures.

Carlow County Library

Courthouse Bagenalstown (Muinebheag)

Muinebheag (Bagenalstown) former courthouse attributed to the architect, Daniel Roberston for Walter, Lord Bagenal. It occupies a raised position overlooking the town and the river Barrow. It features a pedimented Ionic portico and is built in a small scale temple style. Unusually, the portico faces away from the street. This indicates a characteristic associated with the Erectheion (421 – 406BC) on the Acropolis, in Athens. It is now Muinebheag Library since 1992.

Carlow County Library

Church of the Holy Rosary

The church of the Holy Rosary was built in 1805. It was commissioned by Bishop Daniel Delaney. Originally it was known as the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The tower and steeple were added in 1833 and it was rededicated in 1875. The latest refurbishment was completed in 1990 when the re-dedication was conducted by Bishop Laurence Ryan.

Carlow County Library