A journey along Carlow's gentle waterways leads the visitor to a tranquil bygone time. The Rivers Barrow and Slaney and their many tributaries provide exciting activities for the passive and active water enthusiast. The River Barrow has its source in the Slieve Bloom and Devil's Bit mountains and is Ireland's second largest river system running for 192km from its source to the sea. Fringed with reeds and river flowers, and harboring a wealth of wildlife in her banks, the River Barrow bears boats and barges along 68km of navigable waterway past pretty riverside villages and through 23 Victorian locks. The Barrow was a significant commercial canalised waterway right up to the 1960s, with important river ports at Athy, Carlow, Graiguenamanagh and New Ross. Barges carried consignments of malting barley to Dublin as raw material for the famous Guinness stout, which was transported back downstream in its finished state, and later beet-filled barges supplied Ireland's first sugar factory at Carlow. The advent of rail transport in the 1960s signaled its decline. However, in recent times, the river has experienced an exciting rejuvenation with a range of outdoor activities for the sports enthusiast. Cruising the River Barrow is a unique experience due to its unspoilt, uncommercialized and uncrowded waters. There are no long queues passing through locks and no problems getting space at quaysides. The waters of the Barrow are suitable for swimmers, while the track line and woodlands beside the River offer a superb walking environment. Cyclists andwalkers can explore the historic castles and ruins and the scenic countryside on the quiet roads each side of the river.

A journey along the gentle River Barrow takes the traveller to a tranquil bygone time where bird watching, canoeing, angling and boating can all be enjoyed at ease. A journey along Carlow's gentle waterways leads the visitor to a tranquil bygone time. The Rivers Barrow and Slaney and their many tributaries provide exciting activities for the passive and active water enthusiast. The River Barrow has its source in the Slieve Bloom and Devil's Bit mountains and is Ireland's second largest river system running for 192km from its source to the sea. Fringed with reeds and river flowers, and harboring a wealth of wildlife in her banks, the River Barrow bears boats and barges along 68km of navigable waterway past pretty riverside villages and through 23 Victorian locks. The Barrow was a significant commercial canalised waterway right up to the 1960s, with important river ports at Athy, Carlow, Graiguenamanagh and New Ross. Barges carried consignments of malting barley to Dublin as raw material for the famous Guinness stout, which was transported back downstream in its finished state, and later beet-filled barges supplied Ireland's first sugar factory at Carlow. The advent of rail transport in the 1960s signalled its decline. However, in recent times, the river has experienced an exciting rejuvenation with a range of outdoor activities for the sports enthusiast. Cruising the River Barrow is a unique experience due to its unspoilt, uncommercialised and uncrowded waters. There are no long queues passing through locks and no problems getting space at quaysides.

The waters of the Barrow are suitable for swimmers, while the track line and woodlands beside the River offer a superb walking environment. Cyclists and walkers can explore the historic castles and ruins and the scenic countryside on the quiet roads each side of the river. A journey along the gentle River Barrow takes the traveller to a tranquil bygone time where bird watching, canoeing, angling and boating can all be enjoyed at ease.