[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”off|tablet” admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.8.1″ background_enable_color=”off” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(0,0,0,0.47)” background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” background_image=”https:\/\/lovecarlow.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/River-Barrow-near-Bagenalstown.jpg” background_position=”top_center” background_blend=”overlay” custom_padding_tablet=”||0vw|” bottom_divider_height=”80%” bottom_divider_repeat=”0.6x” bottom_divider_flip=”vertical|horizontal”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ module_class=”btn-inline” _builder_version=”4.8.1″ custom_margin=”100px||” custom_margin_tablet=”||” custom_margin_phone=”0px|||” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.8.1″ header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_font_size=”70px” header_letter_spacing=”1px” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_font_size_tablet=”40px” header_font_size_phone=”34px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_letter_spacing_tablet=”0px” header_letter_spacing_phone=”0px” header_letter_spacing_last_edited=”on|tablet”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.8.1″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_font_size=”17px” text_letter_spacing=”0.5px” text_line_height=”2em” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_font_size_tablet=”16px” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_letter_spacing_tablet=”” text_letter_spacing_phone=”0px” text_letter_spacing_last_edited=”on|tablet” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=””]Muine Bheag or Muinebheag, also known in English as Bagenalstown, is a small town on the River Barrow in County Carlow, Ireland.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”#business” button_text=”Local Business” _builder_version=”4.8.1″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_use_color_gradient=”on” button_bg_color_gradient_start=”#57ac5a” button_bg_color_gradient_end=”#7db667″ button_bg_color_gradient_direction=”-60deg” button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”6px” button_font=”Cormorant Garamond|700|||||||” custom_margin=”50px||” custom_padding=”10px|40px|10px|40px|true|true” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_vertical=”20px” box_shadow_blur=”40px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(125,182,103,0.4)”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url=”#whats_on” button_text=”Whats On” _builder_version=”4.8.1″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#022b58″ button_bg_color_gradient_start=”#57ac5a” button_bg_color_gradient_end=”#7db667″ button_bg_color_gradient_direction=”-60deg” button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”6px” button_font=”|700|||||||” custom_margin=”50px||” custom_padding=”10px|40px|10px|40px|true|true”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.8.1″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.8.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.8.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.8.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.6em” max_width=”640px” module_alignment=”center”]<\/p>\n
Bagenalstown, also known as Muine Bheag in Irish (meaning \u201csmall Thicket\u201d) is situated in the beautiful Barrow Valley in the county of Carlow, Ireland. It was founded by Lord Walter Bagenal (1670 \u2013 1745) who was a member of the prominent Bagenal family, who resided in Dunleckney Manor, Co. Carlow. The town sprang up within the townland of Moneybeg, or Muine Bheag in Irish (meaning “small thicket”). In the 18th century there was a small hamlet there. Walter Bagenal decided to build a town on the site, named “New Versailles” and modelled after Versailles in France.<\/p>\n
The town only began to grow and prosper with the arrival of the railway in 1848. The design of the station has been attributed to William Deane Butler. It was permanently closed for goods traffic on 6th September 1976 and re-named “Muine Bheag” in 1988. It was designed and constructed using both limestone and granite and is known as one of Ireland\u2019s finest. To this day the station remains charming with its original features largely untouched.<\/p>\n
In 1911, Bagenalstown became the first town in Ireland to install dual language street signs, which are still in use today. The motto on the town’s coat of arms is “The Irrepressible Number” and its Irish equivalent\u00a0Uimhir Gan Choisc<\/i>.<\/p>\n
However, shortly after the building began the coach route from Dublin was changed so that coaches now crossed the River Barrow at Leighlinbridge instead. Bagenal abandoned his plans, having built only a courthouse, which is now a public library.<\/p>\n
Bagenalstown which was once a mill town made extensive use of the river barrow to transport coal, turf, grain, beet, and Guinness by barge.<\/p>\n
In 1911 the town became the first in Ireland to install dual language street signs, which remain in place today. In the aftermath of Ireland’s independence in 1920, the town commissioners chose to drop the English name “Bagenalstown” in favour of the Irish Muine Bheag.<\/p>\n
The decision proved an ineffective one, and “Bagenalstown” remains in common use among locals. In a 1975 plebiscite 77% of residents polled voted to change the name back, but the proposal failed due to insufficient voter turnout.<\/p>\n
The motto on the town’s coat of arms is “The Irrepressible Number” and its Irish equivalent Uimhir Gan Choisc.<\/p>\n
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