The little town gives the self catering Leighlinbridge visitor an experience of early Ireland, with its narrow, winding streets, grey limestone malthouses and jagged castle ruins overlooking a 14th century bridge, straddling the River Barrow.

The focal point of the town is its valerian-bearded bridge, said to be one the oldest functioning bridges in Europe. The Garrison is situated immediately beside the Black Castle, one of the earliest Norman castles in Ireland erected in 1181.