Tullow

Tullow is a small market town in County Carlow where N81 crosses the River Slaney. This was the main road between Dublin and Wexford until M11 was built along the coast. But Tullow (An Tulach, "The Mound") held little strategic value, with no castles, town walls or battlefields, though it was on the fringes of the 1798 rebellion of United Irishmen. It remains a quiet place, with a population in about 5100, and is within commuting range of Dublin. The oil and gas exploration company Tullow Oil was founded here in 1985.

Get in
The nearest railway station is Carlow, with trains every couple of hours between Dublin Heuston and Waterford. It's 15 km from Tullow, a taxi might be €25-30.

Bus Éireann 132 runs from Dublin (either Connolly station or Busáras) to Blessington (for Russborough House), Baltinglass and Rathvilly, taking 1 hr 45 min to Tullow, with some services continuing to Ballon and Bunclody. There are four M-F, two Sa and three on Sunday. Beware the extra Bus 132 that runs on Thursday: it branches off at Baltinglass to explore the wilds of Wicklow nowhere near Tullow, eventually reaching Wexford and Rosslare.

JJ Kavanagh Bus 874 runs twice M-F from Carlow to Tullow (one hour), Rathvilly, Baltinglass and Hacketstown.

Local Link Bus 800 runs from Arklow (for trains from Wicklow Town, Wexford and Rosslare ferry port) via Aughrim, taking 1 hr 20 min to Tullow and continuing to Carlow. There are four M-Sa and two on Sunday.

is the main bus stop and village centre.

By road from Dublin take N7 / M9 towards Carlow and leave at M9 exit 4 - zigzag east on R448 to join R418 south into Tullow.

Get around
The main sites are some distance out so you need wheels. A bike would do.

See

 * Father John Murphy (1753-1798) is commemorated by a statue in the Square. He was a middling sort of parish priest until in the 1798 rebellion of United Irishmen, he displayed an unexpected talent for military leadership. The rebellion was strongest in County Wexford: see that page for more of the story. Murphy was among those who escaped from the last stand on Vinegar Hill, Enniscorthy through a gap in the encircling forces. His little band tried to fight on, but Murphy was captured near Tullow, tortured and put to death. He's buried at Ferns near Enniscorthy.
 * stands along R727 towards Hacketstown. It's a large portal tomb with two capstones and ten uprights: in the 19th century, a family lived in it.
 * is a village on N81 near the Wicklow boundary. 1 km east stands the Moat or motte, stronghold of a 5th century king of Leinster.
 * has a striking ruined abbey, and the Rathcoran passage grave and hill fort. It's 10 km north along N81 in County Wicklow, but the south end of that county is short of accommodation and other visitor facilities so Tullow makes a better base.
 * stands along R727 towards Hacketstown. It's a large portal tomb with two capstones and ten uprights: in the 19th century, a family lived in it.
 * is a village on N81 near the Wicklow boundary. 1 km east stands the Moat or motte, stronghold of a 5th century king of Leinster.
 * has a striking ruined abbey, and the Rathcoran passage grave and hill fort. It's 10 km north along N81 in County Wicklow, but the south end of that county is short of accommodation and other visitor facilities so Tullow makes a better base.

Do

 * Mount Wolseley Golf Course is within the hotel south of town. The course, designed by Christy O'Connor Jr, is par 72, 7206 yards off championship tees, visitor round €50. Golf carts and clubs are available from the golf shop, open daily 10AM-5PM.
 * The Wicklow Way is a 131-km hiking trail that reaches its south terminus at Clonegal. It's usually done from Dublin southwards over 5-7 days, but please yourself. The last 40 km from Moyne to Clonegal is through lowland fields and doesn't have the upland scenery, yet feels more away-from-it-all as it's further from the city and the big-name tourist areas.

Buy
Tesco in Tullow is open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 10AM-8PM. Aldi is open M-F 9AM-10PM, Sa Su 9AM-9PM. There's also a SuperValu, Lidl and Mace.

Connect
As of July 2021, Tullow has 5G with Eir and Three, and 4G with Vodafone.

Go next

 * Carlow has the county museum, in a beautifully restored convent.
 * Athy has a white castle and fine cathedral. Go there via R418 / R448 to take in Castledermot monastery, Moone High Cross and Burtown House and Gardens.
 * Glendalough the other side of the Wicklow mountains is a must-see monastic complex in a scenic valley.
 * Blessington has the palatial Russborough House, with a big name art collection. Along the way stop off in Hollywood, featured in so many movies that they've put a sign on the hillside to avoid confusion with any similarly-named place.