Borris - village in County Carlow, Ireland

This page describes Borris in County Carlow. For Borris-in-Ossory in County Laois, see Mountrath Borris (An Bhuiríos) is a village in the south of County Carlow, with a population in 2016 of 652. The main reasons to visit are for events at Borris House and for hiking in the Blackstairs mountains.

Get in

Michael Kilbride Bus 881 runs twice M-Sa from Kilkenny castle and railway station to Gowran (for racecourse), Goresbridge and Borris 📍, 40 min, and continues to Tinnahinch and Graignamanagh. Kilkenny has trains every couple of hours between Dublin Heuston and Waterford. Bagenalstown / Muine Bheag station is a little closer to Borris but has no onward public transport.

By road from Dublin follow M9 to Exit 6 onto R448, then take R705 south through Bagenalstown.

Get around

You need wheels to reach nearby attractions, such as the trailhead for Mount Leinster.

See

• Village centre is a line of late Georgian cottages, mostly single-storey and white or grey-harled. The houses are east side of the street, while west is the wall of the Borris House estate, with an imposing gatehouse.
• Borris House is a mansion of 1731, re-vamped in mock-Tudor in 1820. It's now a wedding and events venue, no tours, but you might manage to peek at the exterior.
• Borris Viaduct at the south end of the village, with 16 arches, was built in the 1850s to carry the railway between Bagenalstown and Wexford. The track was abandoned in the 1960s, and the viaduct now has a firm footpath, handrails and ramp access.
• Ullard Church 📍: see Graignamanagh for this 12th century ruin. As the crow flies it's closer to Borris, but by road you have to backtrack on R705 to cross the river.
• Mount Leinster is the peak of 793 m / 2605 ft rising to the east, the highest of the Blackstairs Mountains along the boundary with County Wexford. It's easily ascended by the track from Nine Stones car park to its north.

Do

• Borris Golf Club, Deerpark, Borris R95 ET21 (south end of village), +353 59 977 3310, info@borrisgolfclub.ie. Visitor round €20. Parkland course, blue tees 5680 m, par 70. 2021-07-16
• South Leinster Way is a 104 km hiking trail from Kildavin, County Carlow to Carrick-on-Suir in County Tipperary. From the northeast it comes into Borris along the lane, turns northwest to join R705, then from the bridge heads south along the east bank of the river to Graignamanagh.
• Boating: the river is navigable throughout, with short sections of canal and locks to get past the weirs and shallows, but there are no mooring facilities around Borris.
• The Festival of Writing and Ideas is held at Borris House in August. The next is probably 19-21 Aug 2022, tbc.

Buy

Centra and Brophy's on Main St are both open daily. The Bank of Ireland has an external ATM.

Eat

Jade Dragon, Benny's Takeaway and Teddy's Fast Food are your choices along Main St. Green Drake and The Cellar have closed down.

Drink

Coady's and Joyce's are the village pubs.

Sleep

• Byrne's B&B, Ballyroughan Little, +353 59 977 3518, ebyrne50@eircom.net. Modern bungalow in a scenic setting. It didn't open in 2021. 2021-09-12
• Brenda's B&B, Viaduct View, Kilcoltrim, Borris R95 RY89 (south edge of village), +353 59 977 1860, info@brendasband.ie. Clean welcoming B&B with two doubles, one triple and one king double plus single. 2021-07-15
• Step House Hotel, Main St, Borris R95 V2CR, +353 59 977 3209, info@stephousehotel.ie. Charming Georgian manor house in village centre with mature gardens, gets great reviews for comfort, food and service. B&B double €150 2021-07-15

Connect

As of July 2021, you should manage a mobile call in Borris with EE or Vodafone, but there's no signal from Three. 4G and 5G have not reached this area.

Go next

• Kilkenny is a lively little medieval city, effectively capital of Ireland for six turbulent years.
• Graignamanagh is a quiet scenic village on the navigable River Barrow.
• New Ross on the tidal river has the replica emigrant ship Dunbrody and is near the JFK homestead and arboretum.