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family · Sunday 19 July 2026 · 10:00am 
Carlow County Show
At Carlow Showgrounds · Carlow Town, Co. Carlow
At Carlow Showgrounds · Carlow Town, Co. Carlow
One Sunday each July, the Carlow Showgrounds fill with the sounds that define an Irish summer - cattle being led around a ring, horses clearing poles, a PA system calling the next class, children running between stalls. The Carlow County Show, organised by the Carlow Agricultural Show Society, is one of the county’s biggest community days out: the kind of event where farmers bring animals they have spent months preparing and families come to see something that does not involve a screen. If you have never been to an Irish agricultural show before, this is a fine introduction.
The show brings together the full range of what these events do well. Livestock competitions are at the core - cattle, sheep, and other farm animals are judged across classes that matter to the farming community and are genuinely interesting to watch even without an agricultural background. Showjumping runs on the main ring, with horses and riders competing through the day, and that draws its own crowd of spectators who settle in for the long stretches between classes.
Alongside the competitions, craft and food stalls make up a lively market area - a good chance to pick up local produce, jams, baked goods, and handmade items from makers across the county. Children’s entertainment typically includes fairground rides and animal encounters, which tend to keep younger visitors engaged long after the livestock parade has lost its novelty. Entry is from €10 per adult, with family and children’s rates available.
Carlow Town sits on the M9 motorway between Dublin and Waterford, making it one of the more straightforward towns to reach by road from most of Leinster. From Dublin it is just over an hour; from Waterford under 45 minutes. Train services run from Dublin Heuston to Carlow on the Waterford line, with the station a short walk or taxi from the town centre. Bus Eireann serves Carlow on the Dublin - Waterford route. Parking is typically available on site at the showgrounds - follow show-day signage from the main roads into town.
The town itself has more going on than most people expect. Carlow Castle sits at the river, the county museum covers local history well, and the Barrow Blueway walking and cycling trail runs right through the area. There is more to see in Carlow and across Co. Carlow.
Heading to Carlow Showgrounds in Carlow? Carlow has plenty more to see. Read the Carlow area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.