Surprised that I missed this photo tour the first time around. Great photos that bring back memories.
Played it way back in 1985 and have never forgotten the 16th. I also remember a very good hole on the top of the hill early in the second nine; it looks like the 12th in your pictures. Was a tough course, but also a good one. I'd put it in the same league as Malone and Belvoir Park. Definitely worth playing.
Had a quick look in the book titled "The Pocket Guide to Golf Courses Ireland" (which is a really nice book by William Fforde, Peter Millhouse and the former pro Greg Turner) and they mention Cecil Barcroft (1922), Hawtree & Taylor, then some changes in 1931 from discussions with Alistair Mackenzie, Simpson & Gourlay (1936), some more minor changes in 1940 possibly on recommendations by John Morrison and finally Donald Steele (1984) with modifications to holes 10 & 18. According to William Gibson's book (taken from The Irish Golfer's Blue Book 1939), Simpson (no mention of Gourlay) re-designed ten greens in 1937.
Padraig: did you break 70? According to Frank Pennink "few of the cream of amateur golfers in Ireland manage to break 70 in the Midland Scratch Cup."
PS. Just found (had a hunch I had something on Carlow, but couldn't remember) that I have a book on Carlow titled "The Captain's Table - Carlow Golf Club 1899-2004" by Séamus Connellan. Will have a look in it and report back.