Churches

Church of the Holy Rosary

The church of the Holy Rosary was built in 1805. It was commissioned by Bishop Daniel Delaney. Originally it was known as the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The tower and steeple were added in 1833 and it was rededicated in 1875. The latest refurbishment was completed in 1990 when the re-dedication was conducted by Bishop Laurence Ryan.

Carlow County Library

Church of the Holy Rosary
Carlow County Library

Church of the Holy Rosary

The church of the Holy Rosary was built in 1805. It was commissioned by Bishop Daniel Delaney. Originally it was known as the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The tower and steeple were added in 1833 and it was rededicated in 1875. The latest refurbishment was completed in 1990 when the re-dedication was conducted by Bishop Laurence Ryan.

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Bishop Daniel Delaney was responsible for the building of the parish church in Tullow. It was built in the year 1805.

In 1833 the tower and steeple were added. Cardinal Paul Cullen rededicated the church to
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in 1875: it had originally been known as the Church of The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Church of the Holy Rosary was originally cruciform in design but two side aisles were added in 1941. The ceremony at the conclusion of these works was performed by Bishop Thomas Keogh in October 1942. The architect was Mr. C.B. Powell and the builder was Mr. Thomas Flynn.

Further re-ordering in the sanctuary was completed during the 1970's to a design by the architect Richard Hurley. The Church of the Holy Rosary underwent major refurbishment and was re-dedicated in March, 1990 by Bishop Laurence Ryan. On this occasion the project architect was Patrick Campbell and the builder was Mr. James Bolger.

The Church of the Holy Rosary celebrated its bicentenary in 2005.

St. Columba's Church of Ireland

Arch gateway at St. Columbas Church Tullow

St Columba's Church of Ireland was erected in the year 1830-1831. It was the third of three church buildings to stand on this site in Church Street, Tullow. A vestry was built in 1861. Renovations were carried out in 1893. This view shows the arch gateway entrance.

Carlow County Library

Arch gateway at St. Columbas Church Tullow
Carlow County Library

Arch gateway at St. Columbas Church Tullow

St Columba's Church of Ireland was erected in the year 1830-1831. It was the third of three church buildings to stand on this site in Church Street, Tullow. A vestry was built in 1861. Renovations were carried out in 1893. This view shows the arch gateway entrance.

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St Columbas Church, Tullow

St Columba's Church of Ireland was erected in the years 1830-1831. It was the third of three church buildings to stand on this site in Church Street, Tullow. A vestry was built in 1861. Renovations were carried out in 1893. This is a view from the back of the church

Carlow County Library

St Columbas Church, Tullow
Carlow County Library

St Columbas Church, Tullow

St Columba's Church of Ireland was erected in the years 1830-1831. It was the third of three church buildings to stand on this site in Church Street, Tullow. A vestry was built in 1861. Renovations were carried out in 1893. This is a view from the back of the church

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The Church of Ireland Church in Tullow is known as St. Columba's. It is situated in Church Street. Three church buildings have stood on the same site. The original building dated back to the 1530's. It was knocked down and replaced by a new building in 1737.

The existing St. Columba's was erected in the years 1830-1831. It cost Ł1,669 at the time. A vestry was added in 1861. Other renovations were carried out in 1893.

A monument was erected in 1745 to the memory of General Clement Neill who carried colours for William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne. General Neill's Mother was a sister of Sir Charles Wolseley whose descendants owned Mount Wolseley.

The Wolseley family erected a fine stained glass window in St. Columba's in memory of Sir John Richard Wolseley (d. 1874) and his wife Frances, who died in 1707.

Tullow Methodist Chapel: the Tullow Museum

Tullow Museum - former Methodist Chapel side view

Side view of Tullow Museum, the former Methodist Chapel. This view shows the two storey structure with first floor over basement. The building features simple gothic style windows and stepped entrance to gothic style doorway. The Methodist Chapel was established in Tullow in 1860. It is now the Tullow Museum.

Carlow County Library

Tullow Museum - former Methodist Chapel side view
Carlow County Library

Tullow Museum - former Methodist Chapel side view

Side view of Tullow Museum, the former Methodist Chapel. This view shows the two storey structure with first floor over basement. The building features simple gothic style windows and stepped entrance to gothic style doorway. The Methodist Chapel was established in Tullow in 1860. It is now the Tullow Museum.

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Tullow Museum - former Methodist Chapel

Tullow Museum, which was formerly the Methodist Chapel. It is situated near Tullow Bridge. The building dates from the year 1860 when the Methodists built their chapel on a site on Patrick Murphy's Holding. The building features a stepped approach and simple gothic doorway on first floor over basement. It is now the Tullow Museum.

Carlow County Library

Tullow Museum - former Methodist Chapel
Carlow County Library

Tullow Museum - former Methodist Chapel

Tullow Museum, which was formerly the Methodist Chapel. It is situated near Tullow Bridge. The building dates from the year 1860 when the Methodists built their chapel on a site on Patrick Murphy's Holding. The building features a stepped approach and simple gothic doorway on first floor over basement. It is now the Tullow Museum.

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The Methodists were founded by John Wesley (1703-1791) in England. A Methodist preacher Adam Averall visited Tullow in 1807. He held a meeting at which there was a large attendance. However, on this occasion no Methodist Society was formed. Two missionaries, Robert Huston and Anketell Henderson, visited Tullow in 1847. It is likely that the Methodist Society was formed in Tullow in that year.

Edward M. Banks, a Wesleyan Minister, leased a plot of ground for 99 years from Robert Verschoyle of Eaton Square, Westminister. The lease was valid from the 25th March 1856. The site measured 55 feet at the front, 33 feet at the rear and 119 feet in depth. It was bounded North and East by Patrick Murphy's holding, on the South by Bridge Street and in the West by the River Slaney. The intention was to build a Methodist Chapel there. It was a clause in the lease that such should be built within three years. However, no chapel was erected until 1860. The rent for the property was to be 30 shillings a year.

In 1861, ten Trustees were appointed. Among them was a Methodist Minister called John Foster. Three members were from the Tullow area: Charles Thorp of Tullow Grange, Richard Meredith, and Robert Dowling. Tthe remaining members were George Barnes, Richard Faircloth and Henry R. Banks from Carlow, Jacob Jackson from Hacketstown, Thomas Cooke from Baltinglass, James C. Ashmore of Newtownmountkennedy and Alexander Duncan from Athy.

The Tullow Methodist community was not very large. Very few meetings apart from Sunday worship were held. The building now houses the Tullow Museum.

Daniel Delaney

Right Rev. Dr. Daniel Delaney [1747-1814]

Portrait of Dr. Daniel Delaney born near Mountrath, Co. Laois in 1747, and died in 1814, Biship of Kildare and Leighlin. He founded the Orders of Brigidine Sisters, and Patrician Brothers in Tullow in the early 19th Century.

Carlow County Library

Right Rev. Dr. Daniel Delaney [1747-1814]
Carlow County Library

Right Rev. Dr. Daniel Delaney [1747-1814]

Portrait of Dr. Daniel Delaney born near Mountrath, Co. Laois in 1747, and died in 1814, Biship of Kildare and Leighlin. He founded the Orders of Brigidine Sisters, and Patrician Brothers in Tullow in the early 19th Century.

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Right Rev. Dr. Daniel Delaney was born at Paddock near Mountrath, Co. Laois in 1747. On completion of his pastoral studies in Paris, he returned to Ireland in 1777. He was appointed curate to Dr. O'Keeffe who was resident in Tullow.

On April 7th, 1783, Dr. Delaney was appointed coadjutor Bishop. The Church of the Holy Rosary was built at his behest in 1805. Dr. Delaney was instrumental in the foundations of the Brigidine Order on February 1st 1807. He laid the foundation of the Patrician Brothers Monastery in Tullow in 1808.

Dr. Daniel Delaney died in Tullow after a long illness on July 9th, 1814. His remains were laid in a vault beside the high altar in the parish church.