Athy is a designated HERITAGE TOWN OF IRELAND and the Athy Heritage Centre-Museum focuses on the history of Athy and the surrounding area.

Located in the former 18th century Market House (now Athy Town Hall), Athy Heritage Centre-Museum brings the history of Athy to life, from its Anglo Norman foundation, through the 1903 Gordon Bennett Race, to Athy Men and World War 1 and the story of local Polar explorer Ernest Shackleton.

Athy Heritage Centre-Museum has the only permanent exhibition anywhere devoted to Shackleton. Its highlights include an original sledge and harness from one of his Antartic expeditions, a 15 foot model of Shackleton’s ship ‘Endurance’ and an audio visual display featuring original film footage of his 1914-1916 expedition. The Heritage Centre hosts an annual Ernest Shackleton Autumn School over the October bank holiday weekend.

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In a late 19th century Church in Carlow Town you will find the County Carlow Military Museum.

The Museum displays artefacts dating from the late 18th century to the present day and details of the history of the Irish Army, Local Reserve Defence Forces, UN Peacekeeping, Carlow Militia, World War 1, War of Independence and much more.

Other features focus on Carlow soldiers in armies throughout the world along with armoured vehicle production in Carlow during World War 2.