'Carlow is a county with an exceptionally rich ecclesiastical heritage and this new trails booklet will promote a number of sites of national significance',  said Tourism Minister Mary Hanafin, when shen launched a new booklet 'Trails of the Saints' produced by Carlow Tourism, Carlow County Council and Town Council and supported by Fáilte Ireland. 
 
Minister Hanafin said the proposed trails seek to maximise the potential of religious tourism, which has been identified as a growth area in the coming decade. 'Almost 60,000 visitors came to Carlow last year generating an estimated €29million for the local economy. The unique trails will have wide appeal within the heritage market and offers a stimulating and memorable experience to visitors, strongly themed around the concept of ecclesiastical heritage.”'

Each trail can be comfortably driven in a day - St. Patrick’s Trail in the northern part of the county will cover a distance of 77km while St. Laserian’s Trail in mid-Carlow will be 69km in length and St Moling’s Trail in the south of the county is 70 km. All routes feature a mix of regional and country roads. All of the towns featured have hospitality services and local services to meet the needs of the visitor. 
 
Minister Hanafin said some of the key sites of national significance which are detailed in the new booklet include the monastic site at St. Mullins, the Romanesque doorway at Killeshin, the medieval Cathedral of Old Leighlin, the eighteenth-century College and the nineteenth-century Catholic Cathedral in Carlow and the Adelaide Memorial Church at Myshall.
 
Each route is prefaced by a map with all attractions numbered and linked to the text which follows. A glossary of ecclesiastical terms features at the back of the brochure and are identified within the text by symbol. More in-depth information on each site is provided on the home page of www.carlowtourism.com together with a downloadable mapping facility suitable for Sat-Nav usage. This allows the visitor to navigate your way from one site to the next with ease.