Carlow County Museum

Carlow County Museum occupies a former Presentation Convent building with four exhibition galleries displaying objects from communities across the region. The collection ranges from everyday items to significant historical pieces gathered since the museum's founding in 1973.

The collection started in 1973 as an initiative by the Carlow Historical Society, but only moved to its current home in 2012. Relocating to the former convent provided a permanent building and allowed the growing collection to be displayed more fully.

The museum displays a wooden pulpit crafted in the 19th century for Carlow Cathedral, showing the skilled work of that era. Objects connected to the 1916 Rising tell stories about how local people experienced that time.

The museum sits on College Street in the town center and is easy to reach on foot. Free entry makes it accessible to visit whenever you have time during the year.

The collection includes a fossil from the Carboniferous period over 300 million years old, alongside a rare Iron Age glass bead only 2 millimeters across. These tiny and ancient objects show how varied the region's story is.

Location: Carlow

Inception: 1973

GPS coordinates: 52.83633,-6.92819

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:25