Historic Buildings and Architecture in Leinster: A County Guide

Leinster holds some of Ireland's finest historic buildings and architecture. The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage records 22,285 buildings and structures across the province, of which 527 are rated of National or International importance. Below are the most important of them, county by county, each linked to its official record with photographs and a full description.

Buildings of international importance in Leinster

The handful of Leinster buildings the NIAH rates of international importance, the very top of the inventory:

Busáras/Áras Mhic Dhiarmada. 1945 to 1955, Bus station, Dublin 1.
Custom House. 1780 to 1930, Custom house, Dublin 1.
Bank of Ireland. 1725 to 1805, Parliament house, Dublin 2.
Four Courts. 1775 to 1935, Court house, Dublin 7.
Irish Museum of Modern Art. 1675 to 1685, Hospital/infirmary, Dublin 8.
National Botanic Gardens (Curvilinear Range). 1840 to 1870, Glass/green house, Dublin 9.
The Casino. 1755 to 1780, Garden temple, Dublin 3.
Powerscourt House. 1730 to 1740, Country house, Enniskerry.

Historic buildings in Dublin

Dublin has 7,535 recorded NIAH buildings, 246 of them rated of National or International importance. A selection of the most notable:

Busáras/Áras Mhic Dhiarmada. 1945 to 1955, Bus station, Dublin 1, International importance.
Custom House. 1780 to 1930, Custom house, Dublin 1, International importance.
Bank of Ireland. 1725 to 1805, Parliament house, Dublin 2, International importance.
Four Courts. 1775 to 1935, Court house, Dublin 7, International importance.
Irish Museum of Modern Art. 1675 to 1685, Hospital/infirmary, Dublin 8, International importance.
National Botanic Gardens (Curvilinear Range). 1840 to 1870, Glass/green house, Dublin 9, International importance.
The Casino. 1755 to 1780, Garden temple, Dublin 3, International importance.
Spa Hotel. 1890 to 1895, Hotel, Cooldrinagh.
Lucan House. 1770 to 1780, Country house, Lucan.
Saint Finian's Church (Newcastle). 1750 to 1800, Church/chapel, Newcastle.
Saint Maelruain's Church (Tallaght). 1825 to 1835, Church/chapel, Tallaght.
Rathfarnham Castle. 1580 to 1600, Castle/fortified house, Rathfarnham.
Knocknagin House. 1670 to 1690, House, Knocknagin.
Balbriggan Martello Tower. 1800 to 1810, Martello tower, Balbriggan.
Castle/fortified house, Balrothery. 1400 to 1600.
Ardgillan Castle. 1735 to 1745, Country house, Ardgillan Demesne.
Graveyard/cemetery, Grange (Ba. E By.) Holmpatrick Ed. 1500 to 1650.
Skerries Martello Tower. 1800 to 1810, Martello tower, Skerries.
Skerries Mills. 1500 to 1550, Mill (wind), Skerries.
Shenick's Island Martello Tower. 1800 to 1810, Martello tower, Shenick'S Island.

And 226 more rated buildings across Dublin.

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Historic buildings in Kildare

Kildare has 1,581 recorded NIAH buildings, 29 of them rated of National or International importance. A selection of the most notable:

White Castle. 1500 to 1600, Castle/fortified house, Athy.
Saint John's Cemetery. 1500 to 1900, Graveyard/cemetery, Athy.
Building misc, Duke Street, Athy. 1755 to 1770.
Athy Library. 1960 to 1970, Church/chapel, Athy.
Saint Michael's Old Cemetery. 1800 to 1820, Graveyard/cemetery, Athy.
Saint Mary's Church (Laraghbryan). 1855 to 1860, Church/chapel, Maynooth.
Saint Patrick's College. 1796 to 1815, University, Maynooth.
Saint Patrick's College. 1875 to 1891, Church/chapel, Maynooth.
Saint Patrick's College. 1845 to 1851, Building misc, Maynooth.
Saint Mary's Church (Leixlip). 1780 to 1820, Church/chapel, Leixlip.
Leixlip Castle. 1835 to 1840, Country house, Leixlip.
The Abbey. 1760 to 1790, House, Celbridge.
Naas Courthouse. 1805 to 1810, Court house, Naas.
Naas Town Hall. 1795 to 1800, Prison/jail, Naas.
Catholic Church of Our Lady and Saint David. 1825 to 1830, Church/chapel, Naas.
Saint David's Church (Naas). 1810 to 1850, Church/chapel, Naas.
Cassidy and Company. 1780 to 1820, Mash house, Monasterevin.
Moore Abbey. 1765 to 1775, Country house, Monasterevin.
Catholic Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. 1845 to 1850, Church/chapel, Monasterevin.
Monasterevin Charter School. 1755 to 1760, Charter school, Monasterevin.

And 9 more rated buildings across Kildare.

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Historic buildings in Wicklow

Wicklow has 1,293 recorded NIAH buildings, 13 of them rated of National or International importance. A selection of the most notable:

Powerscourt House. 1730 to 1740, Country house, Enniskerry, International importance.
Dunlavin Market House. 1730 to 1750, Market house, Dunlavin.
Glencree Barrack. 1805 to 1810, Barracks, Aurora.
Russborough House. 1740 to 1750, Country house, Russborough.
Russborough House. 1735 to 1755, Gates/railings/walls, Russborough.
Hollybrook. 1830 to 1840, Country house, Hollybrook.
Killruddery. 1810 to 1830, Country house, Kilruddery Demesne West.
Hunter's Hotel. 1710 to 1730, Hotel, Ballinapark (Ne. By.).
Humewood Castle. 1865 to 1870, Country house, Kiltegan.
Dwyer-McAllister Cottage. 1770 to 1790, Farm house, Derrynamuck.
Kilmacurragh. 1695 to 1700, Country house, Westaston Demesne.
Avondale House. 1775 to 1780, Country house, Avondale.
Shelton Abbey. 1770 to 1775, Country house, Shelton Abbey.

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Historic buildings in Meath

Meath has 1,132 recorded NIAH buildings, 8 of them rated of National or International importance. A selection of the most notable:

Navan Moat. 1170 to 1190, Navan.
Town/city walls, 22 Trimgate Street, Navan. 1790 to 1800.
Unknown, Convent Road, Navan. 1170 to 1280.
Church/chapel, Convent Road, Navan. 1400 to 1500.
Athlumney Castle. 1400 to 1600, Castle/fortified house, Navan.
Gormanston College. 1810 to 1830, Castle/fortified house, Gormanston.
Bellinter House. 1740 to 1760, Country house, Ballinter.
Dunsany Castle. 1770 to 1790, Country house, Dunsany.

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Historic buildings in Louth

Louth has 1,347 recorded NIAH buildings, 18 of them rated of National or International importance. A selection of the most notable:

Barlow House. 1730 to 1735, House, Drogheda.
Corn Market. 1795 to 1800, Market house, Drogheda.
Saint Peter's Church (Saint Peter's). 1745 to 1750, Church/chapel, Drogheda.
School, King Street, Drogheda. 1930 to 1940.
Boyne Viaduct. 1850 to 1860, Bridge, Drogheda.
Saint Peter's Catholic Church. 1790 to 1795, Church/chapel, Drogheda.
Dundalk Courthouse. 1810 to 1820, Court house, Dundalk.
Collon Church. 1810 to 1815, Church/chapel, Collon.
Dundalk Institute of Technology. 1965 to 1975, Factory, Dundalk.
Saint James's Catholic Church. 1760 to 1765, Church/chapel, Grange.
Rokeby Hall. 1780 to 1790, Country house, Rokeby.
Athclare Castle. 1500 to 1600, Castle/fortified house, Athclare.
Barmeath Castle. 1750 to 1790, Country house, Barmeath.
Boyne Valley Baptist Church. 1780 to 1800, Church/chapel, Ballymakenny.
Carstown House. 1610 to 1615, Country house, Carstown.
Townley Hall. 1790 to 1810, Country house, Townleyhall.
Townley Hall. 1785 to 1805, Outbuilding, Townleyhall.
Beaulieu House. 1710 to 1720, Country house, Beaulieu.

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Historic buildings in Wexford

Wexford has 2,842 recorded NIAH buildings, 41 of them rated of National or International importance. A selection of the most notable:

Wexford County Gaol. 1840 to 1850, Gates/railings/walls, Wexford.
Wexford County Gaol. 1840 to 1850, Prison/jail, Wexford.
Wexford Arts Centre. 1770 to 1780, Market house, Wexford.
Saint Selskar's Church. 1815 to 1830, Church/chapel, Wexford.
Graveyard/cemetery, John Street Lower, Wexford. 1723 to 1919.
Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. 1850 to 1860, Church/chapel, Wexford.
Presentation Convent. 1815 to 1820, Convent/nunnery, Wexford.
Catholic Church of Saint Francis of Assisi. 1775 to 1785, Church/chapel, Wexford.
Saint Selskar's Church. 1700 to 1840, Gates/railings/walls, Wexford.
Saint Iberius's Church. 1755 to 1770, Church/chapel, Wexford.
Graveyard/cemetery, Patrick's Square, Wexford. 1700 to 1900.
Saint Peter's College. 1835 to 1845, Church/chapel, Wexford.
Graveyard/cemetery, Mary's Lane, Wexford. 1700 to 1858.
Catholic Church of the Assumption. 1850 to 1860, Church/chapel, Wexford.
Graveyard/cemetery, Kevin Barry Street, Wexford. 1700 to 1892.
Graveyard/cemetery, Wexford. 1700 to 1925.
Catholic Church of Saint Michael the Archangel. 1835 to 1845, Church/chapel, Gorey.
Newtownbarry House. 1860 to 1870, Country house, Bunclody.
Saint Mary's Church (Newtownbarry). 1770 to 1780, Church/chapel, Bunclody.
Saint Aidan's Catholic Cathedral. 1840 to 1855, Cathedral, Enniscorthy.

And 21 more rated buildings across Wexford.

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Historic buildings in Kilkenny

Kilkenny has 1,917 recorded NIAH buildings, 58 of them rated of National or International importance. A selection of the most notable:

Bridge, Irishtown, Kilkenny. 1565 to 1570.
Rothe House. 1590 to 1615, House, Kilkenny.
The Tholsel. 1690 to 1700, Exchange/tholsel, Kilkenny.
Kilkenny Courthouse. 1790 to 1795, Court house, Kilkenny.
Kyteler's Inn. 1250 to 1300, House, Kilkenny.
Saint Mary's Church (Saint Mary's). 1735 to 1740, Church/chapel, Kilkenny.
Bridge House. 1760 to 1770, House, Kilkenny.
Bridge House. 1760 to 1770, House, Kilkenny.
Kilkenny County Hall. 1780 to 1785, College, Kilkenny.
Catholic Church of Saint John the Evangelist. 1900 to 1910, Church/chapel, Kilkenny.
Saint John's Church. 1815 to 1820, Church/chapel, Kilkenny.
Ormonde Stables. 1780 to 1800, Stables, Kilkenny.
Kilkenny Castle. 1825 to 1840, House, Kilkenny.
Shee Almshouse. 1580 to 1585, Almshouse, Kilkenny.
Saint Kieran's College. 1835 to 1840, College, Kilkenny.
Bishop's Palace. 1730 to 1740, Bishop's palace, Kilkenny.
Green's Bridge. 1760 to 1770, Bridge, Kilkenny.
Saint Mary's Catholic Cathedral. 1840 to 1860, Cathedral, Kilkenny.
Black Abbey Catholic Church. 1220 to 1230, Abbey, Kilkenny.
Blackfriars' Bridge. 1630 to 1635, Bridge, Kilkenny.

And 38 more rated buildings across Kilkenny.

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Historic buildings in Carlow

Carlow has 291 recorded NIAH buildings, 8 of them rated of National or International importance. A selection of the most notable:

Duckett's Grove. 1730 to 1760, Country house, Rainestown.
Browne's Hill House. 1760 to 1800, Country house, Kernanstown.
Clonmore Catholic Church. 1800 to 1810, Church/chapel, Clonmore.
Saint Laserian's Cathedral. 1150 to 1900, Cathedral, Oldleighlin.
Dunleckny Manor. 1840 to 1860, Country house, Dunleckny.
Adelaide Memorial Church of Christ the Redeemer. 1900 to 1915, Church/chapel, Myshall.
Huntington Castle. 1600 to 1650, Country house, Clonegall.
Borris House. 1730 to 1740, Country house, Borris.

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Historic buildings in Laois

Laois has 692 recorded NIAH buildings, 26 of them rated of National or International importance. A selection of the most notable:

Fort of Maryborough. 1550 to 1580, Fortification, Portlaoise.
Presentation Convent. 1820 to 1840, Convent/nunnery, Portlaoise.
Portlaoise Courthouse. 1790 to 1820, Court house, Portlaoise.
Saint Peter's Church. 1800 to 1805, Church/chapel, Portlaoise.
Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise. 1930 to 1940, Hospital/infirmary, Portlaoise.
Saint Fintan's Hospital. 1830 to 1840, Hospital/infirmary, Portlaoise.
Portarlington Railway Station. 1845 to 1855, Railway station, Portarlington.
Summergrove House. 1715 to 1765, House, Garroon Or Summergrove.
Emo Court. 1785 to 1795, Country house, Emo.
Saint John's Church (Coolbanagher). 1780 to 1790, Church/chapel, Morett.
Church of the Ascension (Lea). 1880 to 1885, Church/chapel, Ballybrittas.
Mount Saint Anne. 1810 to 1830, Country house, Killenard.
Roundwood House. 1730 to 1750, Country house, Roundwood.
Ballyfin House. 1820 to 1830, Country house, Ballyfin.
Ballyfin House. 1845 to 1855, Conservatory, Ballyfin.
Oughaval Church (Stradbally). 1720 to 1780, Church/chapel, Stradbally.
Saint Mogue's Church (Timogue). 1735 to 1740, Church/chapel, Timogue.
Saint Patrick's Catholic Church. 1835 to 1845, Church/chapel, Ballyroan.
Ó Nuallain. 1600 to 1680, House, Ballyroan.
Errill Cross. 1620 to 1625, Cross, Errill.

And 6 more rated buildings across Laois.

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Historic buildings in Offaly

Offaly has 1,196 recorded NIAH buildings, 22 of them rated of National or International importance. A selection of the most notable:

Shannon Bridge. 1755 to 1760, Bridge, Shannonbridge.
Tullamore Courthouse. 1830 to 1840, Court house, Tullamore.
Banagher Bridge. 1840 to 1850, Bridge, Banagher.
The Abbey. 1780 to 1820, House, Killeigh.
Birr Castle. 1835 to 1845, Castle/fortified house, Birr.
Birr Castle. 1820 to 1830, Foot bridge, Birr.
Birr Castle. 1840 to 1850, Building misc, Birr.
Bellair House. 1805 to 1810, Country house, Bellair Or Ballyard.
Saint Columba's Catholic Church. 1825 to 1835, Church/chapel, Ballybought.
Durrow Abbey. 1835 to 1845, Country house, Durrow Demesne.
Saint Carthach's Church (Rahan). 1150 to 1200, Church/chapel, Rahan.
Charleville Castle. 1800 to 1815, Country house, Tullamore.
Tullamore General Hospital. 1920 to 1940, Hospital/infirmary, Tullamore.
Cloghan Castle. 1650 to 1850, Castle/fortified house, Cloghan Demesne.
Keeloge Battery. 1810 to 1820, Battery, Incherky.
Meelick Martello Tower. 1810 to 1815, Martello tower, Clonahenoge.
Clonyhurk Church. 1800 to 1840, Church/chapel, Garryhinch.
Tullynisk House. 1790 to 1820, Country house, Woodfield Or Tullynisk.
Kinnitty Castle. 1820 to 1840, Country house, Castletown And Glinsk.
Leap Castle. 1550 to 1750, Castle/fortified house, Leap.

And 2 more rated buildings across Offaly.

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Historic buildings in Westmeath

Westmeath has 1,617 recorded NIAH buildings, 44 of them rated of National or International importance. A selection of the most notable:

Catholic Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. 1930 to 1940, Church/chapel, Athlone.
Athlone Castle. 1210 to 1830, Fortification, Athlone.
Shannon Bridge. 1845 to 1851, Bridge, Athlone.
Custume Barracks. 1690 to 1730, Barracks, Athlone.
Custume Barracks. 1690 to 1700, Barracks, Athlone.
Saint Anthony's Catholic Church. 1930 to 1935, Church/chapel, Athlone.
Finnea Bridge. 1600 to 1877, Bridge, Finnea.
Catholic Church of the Assumption. 1870 to 1880, Church/chapel, Delvin.
Saint Mary's Church (Castletowndelvin). 1550 to 1870, Church/chapel, Delvin.
Saint Mary's Hospital. 1840 to 1845, Workhouse administration block, Mullingar.
Mullingar Railway Station. 1850 to 1860, Railway station, Mullingar.
Mullingar Courthouse. 1820 to 1830, Court house, Mullingar.
All Saints' Church (Mullingar). 1810 to 1880, Church/chapel, Mullingar.
Catholic Cathedral of Christ the King. 1930 to 1940, Cathedral, Mullingar.
Hevey Institute. 1850 to 1860, School, Mullingar.
Saint Loman's Hospital. 1850 to 1860, Hospital/infirmary, Mullingar.
Waterstown House. 1745 to 1750, Folly, Glassan.
Waterstown House. 1745 to 1755, Walled garden, Glassan.
The Castle. 1500 to 1750, House, castle/fortified house, Moate.
Middleton Park House. 1845 to 1855, Country house, Castletown Geoghegan.

And 24 more rated buildings across Westmeath.

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Historic buildings in Longford

Longford has 842 recorded NIAH buildings, 14 of them rated of National or International importance. A selection of the most notable:

Saint Mel's Catholic Cathedral. 1840 to 1893, Cathedral, Longford.
Sean Connolly Barracks. 1690 to 1730, Market house, Longford.
Castle Forbes. 1660 to 1865, Country house, Newtown Forbes.
Saint Brigid's Catholic Church. 1878 to 1903, Church/chapel, Ardagh.
Fox Hall. 1620 to 1775, Church/chapel, Legan.
Carrigglas Manor. 1790 to 1805, Gates/railings/walls, Carrickglass Demesne (Ardagh By.).
Carrigglas Manor. 1835 to 1850, Country house, Carrickglass Demesne (Longford By.).
Carrigglas Manor. 1790 to 1805, Stables, worker's house, farmyard complex, Carrickglass Demesne (Longford By.).
Corboy Presbyterian Church. 1725 to 1735, Church/chapel, Corboy Upper.
Ledwithstown House. 1745 to 1750, House, Ledwithstown.
Aqueduct, Cloonbrin, Drumanure. 1810 to 1820.
Tennalick House. 1700 to 1720, House, Tennalick.
Castlecor House. 1730 to 1770, Hunting/fishing lodge, Castlecore.
Creevaghmore. 1720 to 1750, Country house, Creevaghmore.