Overview
Myshall’s one unmissable sight is the Adelaide Memorial Church, a scaled-down replica of Salisbury Cathedral built by a grieving English businessman for his dead wife and daughter – and the catch is that you cannot just walk in. To see the interior, which is the whole point, you need to ring the keyholder ahead (details below). The village (Irish: Maigh Seal, ‘low plain’) sits about 22 km southeast of Carlow town – nearer 27 km by road – on the R724, on the slopes of the Blackstairs Mountains. It anchors the Mount Leinster Heritage Drive, which climbs to the Nine Stones Viewing Point.
History and background
Early Christian foundations
Local tradition connects Myshall to Saint Finian, who founded the great monastery at Clonard and is said to have been born nearby around 470 AD. A pre-Norman church dedicated to him once stood at the village centre; today only the west gable and a graceful semicircular granite arch survive. Close by, St Brigid’s holy well has been enclosed in a modern grotto. The well is now dry, but it is still the focus of a pattern day held each year on 14 September.
Myshall Lodge and the 19th century
Through the 1800s the village was overshadowed by Myshall Lodge, home of the magistrate Robert Cornwall, who ran a harsh regime of repression after the 1798 rebellion. The lodge was deserted in 1915 and burned down in 1922. Little of it remains.
Adelaide Memorial Church
The Church of Christ the Redeemer, universally known as the Adelaide Memorial Church, was commissioned by John Duguid of Dover between 1912 and 1913 as a memorial to his wife Adelaide (d. 1903) and daughter Constance (d. 1908). The Dublin architect George Coppinger Ashlin modelled the Church of Ireland building on Salisbury Cathedral, in Irish limestone on a polished granite base.
Inside, a marble floor patterned after the mosaics of St Mark’s Basilica in Venice leads the eye to the altar. The windows are the highlight: a Harry Clarke series on the life of Christ set alongside panes by Evie Hone that catch the colours of the Carlow countryside. In the adjoining cemetery a marble statue titled Innocence marks the graves of Constance and her parents.
What to see and do
- Adelaide Memorial Church and cemetery – The Salisbury-style exterior, the marble flooring and the Clarke and Hone glass are the reason to come. Ring ahead to get inside (see below); the cemetery is open and quietly kept.
- St Finian’s church ruins – The surviving west wall and granite arch near the village centre, a tangible piece of early Irish Christianity.
- St Brigid’s holy well – Easy to find within its grotto, with the annual pattern day on 14 September.
- The Nine Stones – A short drive along the heritage route brings you to this stone circle, said locally to mark the graves of nine chieftains or of 1798 rebels. Custom has it that you leave a small stone on the graves as you pass. There is a large car park and picnic tables, so it makes a good lunch stop.
- Kilbrannish Loop – A waymarked walking trail from Myshall through Kilbrannish Woods, free and signposted, for a stretch of the legs before or after the church.
- Local GAA – The Naomh Eoin club, founded in 1968, is the centre of village life; summer matches from May to August draw a crowd.
Practical information
- Getting there: The R724 links Myshall to Carlow town in roughly 30 minutes by car. There is a limited Bus Éireann rural service (route 173). Follow the brown signs for the Mount Leinster Heritage Drive.
- Seeing the church: The Adelaide Memorial Church is not open for general visiting without prior arrangement. Contact the keyholder in advance – Mrs Bridie Daly (059 9157671) or John Kelly (059 9157584 / 087 9293661) – to arrange access. Entry is free.
- Parking: Plenty of parking at the Nine Stones, with roadside spaces near the church and village centre.
- Facilities: Picnic tables at the Nine Stones; a small amenity park near St Brigid’s well; public toilets in the village centre.
- Accessibility: The church is compact and steps lead up to the nave, which limits wheelchair access. The village streets and heritage drive are generally manageable.
- Nearby amenities: Myshall has a shop and café for light refreshments, plus a post office and community hall.
Nearby attractions
- Bagenalstown (Muine Bheag) – Ten minutes east, a riverside town with historic bridges and walks along the River Barrow.
- Hacketstown – A short drive north, a historic village and a gateway to the Blackstairs foothills.
- Mount Leinster Heritage Drive – The scenic loop linking Myshall with forest walks, historic sites and viewpoints across the county.
Events and seasonal highlights
- St Brigid’s Well pattern day (14 September) – The community gathers at the well; expect local music and a relaxed village atmosphere.
- Naomh Eoin GAA fixtures (May–August) – Summer football and hurling, a short walk from the village centre.
- Autumn foliage (October–November) – The heritage drive is at its best as the Blackstairs canopy turns.
Ring the keyholder before you set out – there is no point standing at a locked door to the one building worth the trip – and carry a small stone in your pocket for the Nine Stones.