Carlow: Embracing the digital age
Richard Morrell of Moka Coffee Company in Haymarket, Carlow
One significant development in the URDF programme will be a direct walkway from the train station to Carlow College through the grounds of St Leo’s.
“The first phase of our URDF programme that will be on site this year is the link from the train station to Carlow College. That has planning, that has budget, that’s gone out to tender and the tender has been evaluated,” says Mr O’Reilly.
This means that train passengers will soon be able to reach Carlow College and the Visual arts centre within a hundred yards, rather than taking lengthy detours.
Another proposed change will be the thoroughly modern covered space at Potato Market, with sweeping angles of wood and glass that put one in mind of the frame of an eco-friendly UFO, as visually curious as it is appealing. Mr O’Reilly says he was pleasantly surprised at how much people like the design, adding that, like the fountain sculpture, it will be a unique focal point as well as a meeting place, explaining that the Liberty Tree commemorative sculpture is something that evokes pride among Carlovians.
Traders will undoubtedly appreciate more direct links from public transport into the town centre, but they’re also savvy to converting social media and online marketing into getting shoppers in the door. Luke Fitzpatrick, manager at JF Sports, highlights the importance of merging a strong digital presence with in-person service.
“Obviously in this day and age, social media is a big thing,” says Mr Fitzpatrick. “We’re working on making our Instagram page visually appealing, easy to use, with direct links to products.”
Still, the bricks-and-mortar experience remains vital, so it’s about striking a balance: “In terms of the brick-and-mortar shop, people can come in because it helps big time if they can try on the stuff they’re going to get. For team kits, they can see sizes in person – that helps a lot.”
Kieran Comerford points to how businesses are being “really clever” when it comes to using TikTok and other platforms to get people through the door: “There’s a women’s clothing shop on Tullow Street (Trendy Curves) and they do videos about, oh, we have this in stock and here are some tips about how to match this and this, right? So these retailers are now using social media as educational tools to get people through their door.
“Social media is very much complimentary to your bricks and mortar. The bricks-and-mortar experience has changed over the last number of years, there’s no denying that, but at the same time digital is not the siloed thing it used to be seen as,” he adds.
And real-world networks are just as important as online for local businesses. Waterlilies’ Cian Waters talks about businesses helping one another when they can.
“In terms of casual collaboration, especially with Lambert’s Coffee Shop just down in Dublin Street, and Moka Coffee, if we run out of coffee cups, we know we can run down and they’d give us some and vice-versa. So there’s a good connection there.”
The sense of camaraderie extends to local shoppers, who seem keen to support independent retailers, even following them to their next venture.
Sarah Louise Quinlan started Blush Beauty in October 2019, just before Covid, and was able to keep the business running as a solo operation during the pandemic to where it now has several employees, full bookings and a loyal clientele. She has found that her clients are very loyal, many following her from previous salons she has worked at, and are willing to support local businesses over larger chains.
“I think it’s very important that everybody supports local,” she adds.
Similarly, Andy Doyle, owner of Andy’s Music on Castle Street, says he “can understand why people would buy stuff online to save money, but at the end of the day they’re not getting the same service at all”.
A lot of Andy’s Music customers still come on the back of word of mouth and return knowing they can get one-to-one attention for their purchase, anything from tuning an instrument to even getting lessons, something you’re not going to get with an online order.
Looking ahead All told, these developments point toward a more prosperous, culturally-rich Carlow town centre, propelled by dedicated entrepreneurs and progressive council-led initiatives. The success stories – cafés bustling with regulars, shops upgrading their tech and loyal customers seeking out local retailers – suggest that Project Carlow 2040’s lofty vision might be within reach.
However, there’s another side to the regeneration story: parking headaches, concerns over how pedestrianisation is handled and debates about vacant units that remain conspicuously unoccupied. We’ll look at those issues next week. For now, let's leave Carlow standing on the cusp of change, buoyed by fresh energy and real hopes for a brighter future.
