Borris, County Carlow
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| Borris An Bhuiríos |
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| Town population: | 580 (2002) |
| Rural population: | 959 (2002) |
| Elevation: | 53 m |
| County: | Carlow |
| Province: | Leinster |
Borris (an Bhuiríos in Irish) is a small town nestled in a sleepy nook along the River Barrow, which meanders through the undulating valleys of South Carlow. It has a supermarket - O Shea's (Londis) and a small shop - Jim Bambrick's. A 9-hole golf course at Borris commands panoramic views of the neighbouring countryside with Mount Leinster and the Blackstairs mountains to the east, and the Barrow Valley to the west. The town also has a school which has over 490 students and 33-36 teachers.
The MacMurrough Kavanagh dynasty, former Celtic Kings of Leinster, are central to this picturesque town of old stone buildings. The family still live at Borris House in the town centre. Built in Tudor style, the house is open to groups by prior arrangement.
The town prospered in the late 1800’s as Arthur MacMurrough Kavanagh, the landlord of the time, developed a sawmill and a thriving lace-making industry. He also instigated the building of the graceful 16-arch viaduct, situated at the lower end of the town, which was intended to carry the now defunct Great Southern and Western Railway Line between Bagenalstown and Wexford.
