Carlow County Museum facts for kids
| Músaem Chontae Cheatharlach | |
 |
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Established | 1973 |
|---|---|
| Location | Carlow, Ireland |
| Type | County museum |
| Visitors | 26,000 per annum (2019) |
The Carlow County Museum is a cool place to learn about the history of County Carlow in Ireland. Its name in Irish is Músaem Chontae Cheatharlach. You can find it on College Street in Carlow town. The building used to be a convent, which is a home for nuns. Now, it also holds the County Library and Archives.
Contents
Discovering Carlow's Past
How the Museum Started
The museum was first created by a group called the Carlow Historical & Archaeological Society in 1973. Back then, it was known as the Old Carlow Society. Volunteers ran the museum for many years, until 2002.
The museum's collections were first kept in an old Christian Brothers' building. Later, in 1979, they moved to the former theatre room of the Town Hall.
A New Home for History
In 2012, the museum moved to its current home. This was a big moment for Carlow! The building used to be the Presentation Convent. It was part of a new cultural area being developed in the town.
Today, the museum is managed by the Carlow Town Council and Carlow County Council. They work together with the Carlow Historical & Archaeological Society to keep Carlow's history alive.
What You Can See Inside
Exploring the Exhibits
The Carlow County Museum has four rooms filled with exhibits. Some displays are always there, while others change over time. The museum collects all sorts of items. These objects help tell the story of the local area. They cover things like ancient archaeological finds, general history, and how people lived long ago.
The National Museum of Ireland has even chosen this museum to collect important archaeological discoveries.
Special Objects to Spot
One of the most famous items you can see is a 19th-century pulpit. A pulpit is a raised stand where a speaker gives a sermon in a church. This one came from Carlow Cathedral. It was even featured in A History of Ireland in 100 Objects, a special list by The Irish Times.
You can also find objects connected to famous people like John Tyndall, Kevin Barry, and Captain Myles Kehoe. There are also items from the old Carlow Sugar Factory.
Commemorative Displays
In 2016, the museum added a special stained-glass panel. It was part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme. This beautiful panel shows Carlow's part in the 1916 Rising. It highlights key people from Carlow and their roles in that important event.
The museum also had a special exhibition about St. Willibrord. He is the patron saint of Luxembourg. The exhibit explored his interesting connection to County Carlow.
One of the newest items on display is a grave effigy of Robert Hartpole. He was a constable of Carlow Castle and a High Sheriff of Carlow. This effigy dates all the way back to 1594!
More to Explore
- List of country houses in County Carlow
- Oak Park, County Carlow
