Bagenalstown
Location | Carlow, Ireland
Bagenalstown officially named Muine Bheag is a small town on the River Barrow in County Carlow. In the eight century, Saint Lappan reputedly founded a monastic school outside Bagenalstown in the townland of Donore. He is the patron saint of Bagenalstown
In the 18th century there was a small hamlet there. Walter Bagenal decided to build a town on the site, to be named "New Versailles" and modelled after Versailles in France. However, shortly after building began, the coach route from Dublin, which had passed the location, was changed so it crossed the River Barrow a few kilometres away, at Leighlinbridge, instead. Bagenal abandoned his plans, having built only a courthouse. It was not until the arrival of the railway in 1846 that the settlement began to grow into a town.
​
In 1792 the Barrow Navigation Company began their plan to link the town and river to the Grand Canal, subsequently creating Bagenalstown Quay.