Spring Run Carlow: 1st June 2025

On behalf of the organisers, a hearty welcome to this Whit Sunday Model T run around the surrounding town of Carlow..  Our run today consists of 3 stops along with short drives between each stop. We have at each junction that we turn a “T” directional sign. There will be a Ford bell rung in readiness prior to each departure. We also will be allowing for cars that may get held up at junctions, traffic lights and roundabouts and will either stop on a safe siding or slow down for those to catch up with the lead cars.

RUN

1. Carlow Rugby Club. (R93 RX25) is our starting point. We leave the rugby club grounds at 11.00am and turn right on our exit to drive to Duckett’s Grove. Next 4 crossroads turn right. Then follow the lead car and NOTE the “T” directional signs at all junctions from there on.
2. Arriving at Ducketts Grove (The Towers- R93 RF80) at approximately 11.30am. We can park in the grass car park to the right-hand side of the main public car park on our arrival. There is a Craft Shop, Toilets, Tourist office and a Coffee Dock trailer on the right as we enter the courtyard ( sign posted).  We have organised a guided tour of The Towers and the walled gardens by our guide on the day “Danny” (TIME OF TOUR TO BE ANNOUNCED AFTER PARKING)

After the tour we can relax and have our picnic just off the carpark area on the lawn.

• We depart “The Towers” approximately 1.45pm  arriving at the County Carlow Military Museum ;..4 (R93 PK46) at 2.15pm (military and wartime history in a church) on the grounds of the Carlow Health Services Complex.

• On our departure time of 3.00pm, we head down main street on our way to our final stop “The Arboretum” (R93 P9F4) Along our route we will either stop (depending on parking) or a slow drive by “Milford Mill and Weir” where the river Barrow and the canal meet. A point to note as we turn off the main road on approach to the old buildings of the mill, on the righthand side you will notice about 15mtrs of the Granite Fencing which is only found in county Carlow. The fencing consists of granite uprights with a vee hand chiselled out of the top to accommodate a granite truss laid down in the vee to form what’s known as the “Carlow Fencing”. Another example of this can also be seen on the Borris Road out of Bagenalstown.
• After Milford Weir we continue to our final stop for all the ladies. Arriving approximately at 3.45pm “The Arboretum Home and Garden Heaven” (P93 P9F4). Here you can avail of coffee/tea in the restaurant and ladies can wander through their well-stocked shops. When all wallets are reduced to shreds and the men in tears, we can then return to the Rugby club and bid our fare wells.

We do hope that you will enjoy this run, and the weather hopefully will be on our side throughout the day.

A big “THANK YOU” goes to John Hendy for his guidance in organising this my first run, very much appreciated John!   Also, I’d like to thank Ann Duffy for the loan of the directional signs that were shipped in from Rathcoffey at the last minute. So, on behalf of John Hendy, Ann Duffy and I,  we would like to thank you all and appreciate your attendance on this the first run in Carlow town and the scenic surrounding townlands. Take care, God bless and a safe journey to all.

Des Pearson, 1st June 2025