St. Mullins is a village nestled between the Blackstairs Mountains and Brandon Hill in Co. Carlow.   

The area has a great store of history including a church, a motte and bailey fort, a holy well and a mill.  

St. Moling’s church lies in the historic village, which is named after St. Moling, who was a 7th century poet, artist, prince and cleric.

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He, together with the assistance of the Irish Builder “Gobban Saor” constructed a monastery here, giving the area it’s name.  

St. Moling became the Bishop of Ferns.  He died in 697 and his body was laid to rest in St. Mullins.

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When the Normans arrived in Ireland in 1169 they began constructing fortified buildings.  Although these weren’t in existence for long, they were of huge significance.  

The MOTTE was a mound of earth with a wooden structure positioned on the top.  In this, the local Lord resided.  

The BAILEY was the flat area of land surrounding this and the lower ranks resided here.  The bailey was enclosed with earth and fencing.  

These structures were later replaced by “DONJONS” which were the earliest form of stone houses.

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