Rathvilly

Rathvilly is a small village of 1,000 people in north east Carlow, near the Kildare and Wicklow borders. The town is renowned for its well-kept appearance and charming character, which has earned the town many awards in the national Tidy Towns competition, including winning the competition outright three times in the 1960s.

Get in

By car

• From Carlow, follow the signs for Hacketstown and turn right at Killerig Cross (where a pub will be on your right). Take the first left, which you will meet after only 20 meters. Take the left turn (with Rathvilly signposted) after 3km. Ignore all turns until you meet the N81 and turn right for Rathvilly.

See

In the centre of the village, there is a statue remembering Kevin Barry, a local 18 year old who fought for Irish independence and was executed by British soldiers in the 1920s. The nearby Moat of Rathvilly was the residence of the King of Leinster during his 40 year reign in the fifth century.

Do

• Coole Equestrian Centre, ☎ [phone]. Includes an indoor arena and an all-weather outdoor arena. 
• Lisnavagh Gardens, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. A 350 year old mansion set on 1,000 acres of woodland and gardens. Visits can be arranged by telephone. Weddings and corporate events welcome. 

Buy

Eat

Drink

• Lawlors Pub. 
• Edward J Nolan's. 

Sleep

Guesthouses

• Baile Ricead, Ricketstown, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Large comfortable farmhouse overlooking the Wicklow mountains. 
• The Watermill, ☎ [phone]. 16th Century watermill situated on the River Slaney. Italian and French spoken. Free fishing and continental cuisine on offer. 300m from Rathvilly. 

Self-catering

• Lisnavagh Estate & Gardens, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Accommodation for long-term and short-term visitors for whatever purpose. 

Connect