Bus Hire in Carlow

Carlow is the county town of one of Ireland's smallest counties, positioned on the River Barrow 85 kilometres south of Dublin via the M9 motorway. The town has a growing arts and cultural scene anchored by the Carlow Arts Festival (June) and the Visual Centre for Contemporary Art, one of the finest contemporary art galleries in Ireland outside Dublin and Cork. Carlow is within easy day-trip range of Kilkenny (28 kilometres south-east via the N10, approximately 25 minutes), the Rock of Cashel (70 kilometres south-west via the N9 and N8, approximately 1 hour), and the Wicklow coast.

County Carlow holds two of Ireland's most significant megalithic monuments: Browne's Hill Dolmen (3 kilometres east of Carlow town via the R726) is reputed to have the largest capstone of any portal dolmen in Ireland or Europe, a granite block estimated at 100 tonnes; and the Haroldstown Dolmen at Tullow (15 kilometres south-east) is a double-chamber portal tomb in a field setting. The Delta Sensory Gardens (Strawhall, 2 kilometres from Carlow town centre) is a multi-sensory heritage garden and horticultural training centre, and Altamont Gardens at Tullow (16 kilometres south-east) is a historic woodland garden in a River Slaney valley setting managed by the OPW.

Browne's Hill Dolmen

Browne's Hill Dolmen (3 kilometres east of Carlow town via the Hacketstown Road R726, approximately 5 minutes by coach) is a Neolithic portal tomb dated to around 4000 BC and widely regarded as having the largest capstone of any dolmen in Ireland or Europe. The granite capstone is estimated at 100 tonnes; it rests at an angle on the portal stones, having partially sunk into the soft ground. The site is freely accessible year-round; coaches park on the Hacketstown Road and the walk to the dolmen takes approximately 5 minutes across a grassy field. The site is OPW-managed and is one of the most visited prehistoric monuments in Leinster.

Altamont Gardens and the Slaney Valley

Altamont Gardens (Tullow, 16 kilometres south-east of Carlow via the R726 and N81, approximately 20 minutes) is a 40-acre woodland garden in a valley of the River Slaney, managed by the OPW. The garden includes a formal lake, an ice age glen with ancient native oaks, a bog garden, and herbaceous borders planted in the Robinsonian style. Spring (April to May for the azaleas and rhododendrons) and autumn (October for the colour) are the peak garden visit periods. Coach parking is at the Altamont estate entrance. Borris House (20 kilometres south-east of Carlow at Borris village, the seat of the MacMurrough Kavanagh family) is a Georgian Gothic country house with formal terraced gardens, open by appointment for groups in summer.

Carlow Arts Festival and the Visual Centre

The Carlow Arts Festival (held over 10 days each June) is one of the longest-established arts festivals in the south-east, with a programme of visual art, music, theatre, and street performance. The Visual Centre for Contemporary Art (Old Dublin Road, 1 kilometre from the town centre) is a purpose-built gallery opened in 2009 with three gallery spaces and a permanent collection. The Carlow County Museum (in the Old Courthouse on Athy Road) covers the prehistoric and medieval history of County Carlow, including artefacts from Browne's Hill and the Hacketstown area. Coaches can park at the Old Dublin Road car park adjacent to the Visual Centre.

What Bus Hire Costs in Carlow

As a rough guide, a minibus (up to 19 seats) in Carlow runs around 240 to 450 EUR per day, a midi-coach (around 35 seats) around 400 to 780 EUR per day, and a full-size coach (49 to 55 seats) around 620 to 1,180 EUR per day. Carlow is a smaller market with good availability year-round. The Carlow Arts Festival in June and the summer garden visiting season (April to October) generate the highest booking volumes. The final figure depends on your route, the date, and how long you need the vehicle and driver. We confirm a fixed price with no hidden charges, so send your details for a free quote.

Services Available in Carlow