Recording and Conserving Historic Graveyards in County Carlow

What to Expect

This Heritage Week session takes place in Mullaun Cemetery in Tullow on Thursday 20 August, from 3:00pm to 4:00pm, and covers understanding, recording, maintenance and conservation of historic graveyards in County Carlow. It is a field session rather than a lecture: participants stand in a working historic graveyard while the practical issues are pointed out on the actual stones, from ivy and vegetation management to what damages a limestone inscription and what does not, and how a community group should record a graveyard before doing anything else to it.

Graveyard recording is one of the largest volunteer heritage activities in Ireland, run by parish and community groups who survey, photograph and transcribe every stone to build a permanent record. The risk is well-known: enthusiastic tidying that scrubs, repoints or straightens stones and destroys more than it saves. A session like this is aimed squarely at the community groups doing that work in Carlow, giving them a conservation standard to work to. It is free and open to anyone with an interest.

Good to Know

• Thursday 20 August 2026, 3:00pm to 4:00pm.
• Venue: Mullaun Cemetery, Mill Street, Tullow, opposite Tullow Community School.
• Free of charge.
• Phone Carlow County Council on 059 917 0300 to confirm the meeting point and whether booking is needed.
• Part of National Heritage Week 2026, which runs across County Carlow from 15 to 23 August.
• Outdoor session on uneven ground, so wear boots and dress for the weather.
• Aimed at community and parish graveyard groups as much as at general heritage audiences.

Getting There

Mullaun Cemetery is on Mill Street in Tullow, opposite Tullow Community School, on the edge of the town centre. Tullow is about 13km east of Carlow Town on the N81 and roughly the same distance north of Bunclody. There is parking in the town and around the community school. Bus Eireann route 132 connects Tullow with Carlow Town and Dublin, with stops in the centre of Tullow a short walk from Mill Street.