The courthouse, designed by William Vitruvius Morrison, was erected in the 1830’s in place of a quarry. As a result, the ground level is different between the front and back of the building.
According to the local tradition, the courthouse was intended for Cork but the plans got mixed up to the advantage of Carlow.
The building stands on a wide stone podium and the front shows a portico with 8 Ilyssus style Ionic columns.
The cannon in front of the building is a Russian gun, captured during the Crimean war.
