Profile of Carlow

Although a small county, Carlow is a vibrant place. It contains many sites of great historical interest, including the famous Browne's Hill Dolmen, which has the largest capstone in Europe at approximately 100 tonnes in weight.

Carlow is a rich agricultural county in which tillage, sheep and dairy farming are all found. Crops grown include barley, wheat, potatoes and soft fruits. Sugar beet was also widely cultivated for many years because of the sugar processing industry in Carlow town.

Carlow has a growing industrial base. Since the 1970s, international companies such as Braun, now Braun Oral B (personal care products), and Läpple (which makes parts for the auto industry), have been established in the county. Other industries include meat processing, agricultural engineering and market gardening.

Carlow is situated in the province of Leinster, in the South-East of Ireland. It lies inland and has no coastline. Carlow is the second-smallest county in Ireland, measuring just 896 square kilometres in area. It is bordered by five other counties: Laois, Kildare, Wicklow, Wexford and Kilkenny.

The town of Carlow is the largest in the county and is home to around 40% of Co. Carlow's population. Other towns are Bagenalstown (Muine Bheag), Borris, Hacketstown, Leighlinbridge, Rathvilly and Tullow.

The number of people living in Carlow increased steadily throughout the twentieth century. According to the Preliminary Report of the Census of 2006, the total population of Carlow is now 50,471. In 1926, there were only 34,476 inhabitants. The Census of 2002 showed the population to be 41,616.