Carlow Courthouse is located at the junction of the Athy and Dublin roads in Carlow town, Ireland. The courthouse, which is an impressive public building, was constructed between 1828 and 1834. It is one of Ireland’s finest examples of ancient Greek revivalist architecture. The building is based on the Temple of Llissus in Athens, Greece.
Completed in 1834, Carlow Courthouse was designed by architect William Vitruvius Morrison. It is built of bricks hewn from Carlow granite (ashlar granite). A flight of steps leads from street level to the portico which is supported by eight columns. Inside there are two D-shaped courtrooms, to the rear of which are the offices of the court. The building was designed to make maximum use of natural light. Prisoner cells are located in the plinth beneath the building.
The courthouse is surrounded by iron railings which stand on a limestone base. The piers at the gates consist of clusters of fasces topped by a Roman axe, known as a halberd. In Roman times these symbolised a magistrate’s power and jurisdiction.
The cannon on the steps of Carlow Courthouse was captured from the Russian Army during the Crimean War (1853-1856). It commemorates all the Irish soldiers who lost their lives during the Crimean War. It was donated to the town of Carlow by the British Minister of War Lord Panmure in 1858.
After being in use for over 160 years the Carlow Courthouse building was in need of major refurbishment. A survey identified a number of serious defects. Plans for the restoration of the building were drawn up in consultation with the Heritage Council. The refurbishment work was carried out and the building was carefully restored. Restoration work on the railings has yet to be undertaken.
Carlow Courthouse was officially re-opened following major refurbishment in the year 2002 On This Day.
Photo by Nico Kaiser 
Carlow Courthouse