Roads and Toll Roads

Turnpike Road Kilcullen to Carlow

Notice taken from the Carlow Morning Post 13 August 1822. Meeting of the Trustees to be held on 26th August 1822 in Castledermot. Abraham Rothe named as Treasurer.

Carlow County Library

Turnpike Road Kilcullen to Carlow
Carlow County Library

Turnpike Road Kilcullen to Carlow

Notice taken from the Carlow Morning Post 13 August 1822. Meeting of the Trustees to be held on 26th August 1822 in Castledermot. Abraham Rothe named as Treasurer.

Carlow County Library

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Turnpike Road Carlow to Castlecomer

Notice taken from the Carlow Morning Post 1st April 1822. Secretary Robert Phillips calls a meeting to be held at Carlow on 15th April 1822.

Carlow County Library

Turnpike Road Carlow to Castlecomer
Carlow County Library

Turnpike Road Carlow to Castlecomer

Notice taken from the Carlow Morning Post 1st April 1822. Secretary Robert Phillips calls a meeting to be held at Carlow on 15th April 1822.

Carlow County Library

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The Dublin-Carlow-Kilkenny road was a major highway. During the first half of the eighteenth century tolls were imposed on roads along major routes in Ireland. This became necessary in order to ensure that they were kept in good repair.

These roads were also known as turnpike roads. Turnpikes were barriers extending across the road, which were turned (or opened) in order to allow traffic to pass, after the payment of a charge or toll to a tollgate keeper, who collected money for the trust.

There were circa 40 main toll-roads in Ireland, of which five passed through County Carlow. Parliament legislated for toll-roads to be set up. They were established for economic reasons and to ensure that the local population would not be responsible for their upkeep. Under the legislation, trusts were established, usually for a period of 21 years, to administer the toll-roads.

The earliest toll-road in County Carlow was set up in 1731 along the route from Kilcullen to Kilkenny through Carlow town. At least four separate trusts were established to maintain the turnpike or toll-roads passing through County Carlow.

Turnpike Road notice April 1799

Notice of a the trustees setting the tolls for the turnpike road from Athy to Castlecomer, from thence to Leighlinbridge. Taken from Finns Leinster Journal April 1799

Carlow County Library

Turnpike Road notice April 1799
Carlow County Library

Turnpike Road notice April 1799

Notice of a the trustees setting the tolls for the turnpike road from Athy to Castlecomer, from thence to Leighlinbridge. Taken from Finns Leinster Journal April 1799

Carlow County Library

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1. Kilcullen to Carlow - Abraham Rothe (Treasurer)

2. Athy to Castlecomer and Leighlinbridge - Roger Garraway and David Ryan (Treasurers)

3. Carlow to Kilkenny - Andrew Johnson (Treasurer)

4. Carlow to Castlecomer - Robert Phillips (Secretary)

5. Dublin to Carlow through Blessington and Baltinglass - Messrs. David La Touche & Co. (Treasurer), Michael Fenton (Clerk and Collector)

The trustees met at different locations. Common meeting places in the Carlow area were Carlow town, at the Royal Oak, Leighlinbridge and at the Leinster Arms or Byrne's Inn in Castledermot . Meetings were generally held quarterly and were advertised in the local press.