County Dossier
Carlow
A border county of river valleys and old strongholds.
Carlow is an inland county of south-eastern Leinster, shaped by the River Barrow and the rise of the Blackstairs Mountains along its eastern edge.
At a glance
Carlow at a glance
A border county of river valleys and old strongholds.
- 1210 – Uí Cheinnselaig
- From Ceatharlach, "place of cattle"
- Formed from earlier territories of South Leinster
- Area: 346 sq miles / 896 km²
- Population: 54,612
- County Top: Mount Leinster (2,605ft / 794m)
County Geography
Carlow meets Kildare to the north, Wicklow to the east, Wexford to the south-east, Kilkenny to the south-west, and Laois to the west and north-west. The county is shaped by the Barrow valley, the line of the Blackstairs Mountains, and the lower inland plain between them.
Carlow is easy to read through the Barrow valley, the central plain, and the Blackstairs edge.
Map Reference
View Carlow on the map
Carlow is the county. The map shows its boundary, places, and neighbouring counties.
The county.
The county boundary.
Nearby counties and places.
Places and routes
Carlow, Tullow, Leighlinbridge, Bagenalstown, and Borris show the county from its central plain and Barrow corridor to its southern and eastern sides.
Connections
The county’s routes have long followed the Barrow, crossed through Carlow town and Leighlinbridge, and run south and east toward Bagenalstown, Borris, and the Blackstairs side. Movement follows the same river-and-plain structure.
Names
- Carlow
- County Carlow
- County of Carlow