Rathvilly between the town centre and the Slaney
Rathvilly can be understood through three specific landmarks: the N81 between Baltinglass and Tullow runs through the centre, the River Slaney flows through the town, and Rathvilly lies at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains. The Slaney is an important natural feature of Rathvilly; the river near Rathvilly is protected as the Slaney River Valley Special Area of Conservation. Together, these features offer a focus on landscape, architecture and local history. If you are looking for a hotel in Rathvilly, you can start by considering which of these themes you would like to be the main focus of your stay.
River, nature and heritage
The River Slaney is not only an important natural feature: there is a varied birdlife along the river at Rathvilly, including herons, and fishing is also possible. Check local rules and access conditions before fishing. A small mill on the River Slaney is part of Rathvilly’s heritage. It adds a dimension of local history to the river’s natural and recreational attractions.
Church and local history
St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Rathvilly is a detached, gable-fronted Gothic Revival church with side aisles. Most of the original interior features, including the arcades, have been preserved. The side aisles are part of the building’s design, while the arcades are among the preserved interior features. This places the exterior form and interior fittings side by side as two distinct architectural features.
Rathvilly’s local history is also reflected in its different memorial sites. A monument in Rathvilly commemorates Kevin Barry, a young local man who played a notable role in the struggle for Irish independence. Rathvilly’s Holy Well is associated with a baptism by St Patrick and can be seen in the local cemetery. The monument and the Holy Well point to different stories: the struggle for independence on the one hand and a religious tradition on the other.
Rathvilly Motte
Near the village of Rathvilly, Rathvilly Motte stands at a crossroads on the road to Lisnavagh in County Carlow. It is said to have once been the residence of a King of Leinster who ruled from 443 to 483 AD. Access is through a small gate at the foot of the motte. Check locally before travelling to see whether a visit is currently possible.
County Carlow: routes and heritage
County Carlow offers distinctive routes that can be readily compared based on their descriptions. The Mount Leinster Heritage Drive is a 75 km driving route through the rural landscape in the south of County Carlow. It passes through Borris, Bunclody, Clonegal, Kildavin, Myshall, Fennagh and Bagenalstown. Clearly visible road signs mark the route; large information boards with further details are located in the town centres. The Barrow Way is a different kind of route: it stretches for 113 km from County Kildare to the monastic village of St Mullins in the south of County Carlow, following the towpath along the River Barrow. Their length, endpoints and route characteristics make it easy to compare the two routes.
County Carlow’s heritage also includes Brownshill Dolmen, a significant example of early Neolithic architecture. Its granite capstone is estimated to weigh more than 100 tonnes and is considered the largest of its kind in Europe. The monument is believed to be between 4,900 and 5,500 years old. The church ruins at St Mullins in County Carlow represent a different form of heritage: they include five churches and the remains of a round tower.
Discover more destinations: Carlow, Ballon, Borris, Killerig, Muine Bheag, Hacketstown, Bunclody, Leighlinbridge
For the main travel overview: County Carlow.
