Carlow County Museum
Carlow County Museum
4.5
Monday
10:00 - 16:30
Tuesday
10:00 - 16:30
Wednesday
10:00 - 16:30
Thursday
10:00 - 16:30
Friday
10:00 - 16:30
Saturday
10:00 - 13:00
13:30 - 16:30
About
Carlow County Museum is a treasure trove located in Carlow Town’s Cultural Quarter. Admission is free and is entered through Carlow Tourist Office. Spanning four galleries, the museum has a wide collection of objects from the county including the magnificent 19th century pulpit from Carlow Cathedral; the original gallows trapdoor from Carlow Gaol; the smoking pipe of Captain Myles Keogh, killed at the infamous Battle of Little Big Horn; a 340 million-year-old fossilised squid; the death mask of Kevin Barry, a medical student who was executed for his role in the Irish War of Independence; a display on St. Willibrord, an Anglo-Saxon monk who trained in County Carlow and is now the Patron Saint of Luxembourg and First Apostle of the Netherlands; items relating to John Tyndall, the renowned 19th century Carlow scientist who discovered the greenhouse effect; see a display on Carlow’s Sugar Factory and the conserved 16th century effigy of Robert Hartpole, the Constable of Carlow Castle
Duration: 1-2 hours
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4.5
85 reviews
Excellent
54
Very good
26
Average
5
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Pauline M
3 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
Visited this museum today. It'a real gem in Carlow town. Contains a variety of fascinating exhibits, all really well displayed.
Our informative guide Dermot made our visit even more interesting.
Our informative guide Dermot made our visit even more interesting.
Written 23 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kildare5
Newry, UK3 contributions
Nov 2021 • Friends
Visited the Museum today, a wonderful experience, so many interesting things to see. Very well worth a visit.
Written 25 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
strudel01
New Jersey40 contributions
Aug 2021
Spent two hours here with my kids enjoying all of the wonderful exhibits. While it is Carlow-centric (obviously) the museum adds much to the story of Ireland, building on our understanding of events and significant people throughout history. There was so much here, thoughtfully displayed, we could have spent even more time discovering the treasures throughout. Curator John was a delight, answering questions on his way through the exhibits. He really added to the overall experience. Highly recommend this stop!
Written 11 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Erica L
County Carlow, Ireland35 contributions
Oct 2019
From the outside you cannot imagine that he museum in Carlow town is actually that big. They have the famous pulpit that once belonged in the cathedral, an old living room and an old grocery store that helps to imagine how people lived in the past. Info on the sugar factory that employed so many in town (my father-in-law being one) and a piece of the trap door used in the executions in what today is the Carlow shopping centre. And much more. Right beside the library .
Written 22 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
edmondite
edmond, oklahoma1,231 contributions
Feb 2020
Located right by the Tourist Information Office, this museum was very interesting and had lots of good artifacts from former days. A kind gentleman was working there and explained to me the story of Lucinda Sly and about the sugar factory. Up the stairs you can get a view of Carlow Cathedral and learn more church history. There is a place to make a donation as you exit.
Written 3 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for visiting - we're glad you enjoyed your time here!
Written 9 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tricia H
Carlow, Ireland1 contribution
Jan 2020 • Business
I took my class of 32 5th class students (age 11/12 years old) and the museum could not have been more accommodating. From the very start they replied very promptly to emails (due to a hactic classroom schedule I had to rearrange times) to the welcome the students recieved. Staff split the group into 2, assigned each group a tour guide and showed the students around. They were fantastic story tellers and really brought the artefacts to life. The answered all questions and were kind and considerate to the students at all times. I could not recommend this museum enough....Did I mention it's free of charge!! Thank you carlow museum, we are still talking about you in school!!
Written 25 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, thank you so much for your lovely review - we were delighted you and your students had such a great time at the museum! We love when school groups come to visit us - we're very proud of our collection and always want to show it off to local children so they can see for themselves how wonderful and surprising Carlow is! You'll always be welcome back at Carlow County Museum!
Written 27 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
breandanoscanaill
clifden county Galway72 contributions
Feb 2020
This is a wonderful museum which tells the story of Carlow from the earliest days to the present. There is something for everyone here and the displays are well set out. The building itself is very fine and is worth seeing.
Written 10 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your comment! We agree - the Museum building itself (a converted Presentation Convent) is museumworthy in its own right!
Written 11 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Paul S
Kirkby-in-Ashfield, UK25 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Carlow County Museum is great place to spend a few hours
The staff are very friendly and informative the museum is well laid out with lots to see, we learnt a lot about Carlow
The staff are very friendly and informative the museum is well laid out with lots to see, we learnt a lot about Carlow
Written 30 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your lovely comment, we're delighted you enjoyed your time here!
Written 3 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Leo M
14 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
Just yards from the hub and bub of Carlow’s Main Street you enter the peace and tranquility of the museum where an intriguing trip back in time facilitates reminiscing and even awe as we ponder how previous generations lived their life’s. A terrific array of interesting displays, well worth a visit
Written 6 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Leo for such a positive review! We're so glad you had an interesting visit!
Written 11 November 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Clive D
Rathvilly, Ireland17 contributions
Nov 2019 • Family
Great local museum for young and old, very informative and items on display are fantastic to get a glimpse into Carlow’s bygone age.
Written 6 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for such a lovely review!
Written 11 November 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Claim your listingCARLOW COUNTY MUSEUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Carlow County Museum
- Carlow County Museum is open:
- Mon - Fri 10:00 - 16:30
- Sat - Sat 10:00 - 13:00
- Sat - Sat 13:30 - 16:30
- Hotels near Carlow County Museum:
- (0.13 km) Dinn Ri Hotel
- (0.12 km) Charlotte Rooms
- (0.22 km) Red Setter Townhouse B&B
- (0.17 km) Racey Byrnes B&B
- (0.29 km) The Clink Boutique Hotel
- Restaurants near Carlow County Museum:
- (0.07 km) Mimosa Wine & Tapas Bar
- (0.20 km) Teach Dolmain Pub & Restaurant
- (0.14 km) Dinn Ri Bar
- (0.19 km) Lennons@VISUAL
- (0.11 km) Brooks Carlow