Baltinglass

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Town in County Wicklow, Ireland

title: "Baltinglass" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["towns-and-villages-in-county-wicklow", "civil-parishes-of-county-wicklow", "former-boroughs-in-the-republic-of-ireland"] description: "Town in County Wicklow, Ireland" topic_path: "geography/ireland" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltinglass" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Town in County Wicklow, Ireland ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
settlement_typeTown
nameBaltinglass
native_nameBealach Conglais
native_name_langga
image_skylineIMGBaltinglass 4945w.jpg
image_captionBaltinglass, from Chapel Hill
pushpin_mapIreland
pushpin_label_positionright
pushpin_map_captionLocation in Ireland
coordinates
blank_name_sec1Irish Grid Reference
blank_info_sec1
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameIreland
subdivision_type1Province
subdivision_name1Leinster
subdivision_type2County
subdivision_name2Wicklow
unit_prefMetric
elevation_m118
population_as_of2016
population_total2137
population_footnotes
::

|settlement_type = Town |name = Baltinglass |native_name = Bealach Conglais |native_name_lang = ga |image_skyline = IMGBaltinglass 4945w.jpg |image_caption = Baltinglass, from Chapel Hill |pushpin_map = Ireland |pushpin_label_position = right |pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ireland |coordinates = |blank_name_sec1 = Irish Grid Reference |blank_info_sec1 = |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = Ireland |subdivision_type1 = Province |subdivision_name1 = Leinster |subdivision_type2 = County |subdivision_name2 = Wicklow |unit_pref = Metric |elevation_m = 118 |population_as_of = 2016 |population_total = 2137 |population_footnotes =

Baltinglass, historically known as Baltinglas (), is a town in south-west County Wicklow, Ireland. It is located on the River Slaney near the border with County Carlow and County Kildare, on the N81 road. The town is in a civil parish of the same name.

Etymology

The town's Irish name, Bealach Conglais means "the way of Conglas". It was the name of a palace at Baltinglass, where, according to the Irish etymologist Patrick Weston Joyce, the powerful Leinster king Branduff resided in the sixth century. Conglas was a member of the mythological warrior collective, the Fianna.

A nineteenth-century explanation is found in Samuel Lewis' A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, where he says that the name, "according to most antiquaries," comes from Baal-Tin-Glas, meaning the "pure fire of Baal," and that this suggests that the area was a centre for "druidical worship".

The detailed study, The Place-names of County Wicklow by Liam Price provides several variations of the town name from the 12th century Book of Leinster, through King King Henry VIII's state papers, to the 17th century Down Survey.

Previous Irish-language names for the village bring to mind its monastic past. These, as mentioned in two 17th-century works, are Mainistear an Bhealaigh and Mainister an Beala. The first of these, Mainistir an Bhealaigh, has been the name used since the beginning of the independent Irish state.

History

The surrounding hills of the area are rich in archaeological and historical sites, including the Rathcoran passage structure. On the highest point of the Baltinglass Hill, north-east of the village, the passage grave from the Stone Age whose outer walls are finished in chalk not native to the area, is said on bright days to be visible from Kildare's Curragh 48 km away.

Research published in 2025 identified more than 600 suspected hilltop dwellings dating to the Neolithic period and Early Bronze Age in the Brusselstown Ring, "a site of major national and international heritage importance" within the Baltinglass Hillfort Cluster, making it the largest nucleated prehistoric settlement by far ever discovered in Ireland and Britain. The discovery challenged the theory that the Vikings built the first Irish towns; the Baltinglass settlement existed 2,000 years before the Vikings arrived.Multiple sources:

  • {{cite journal | first1 = Dirk | last1 = Brandherm | first2 = Cherie | last2 = Edwards | first3 = Linda | last3 = Boutoille | first4 = James | last4 = O'Driscoll | date = 2025-11-18 | title = Brusselstown Ring: a nucleated settlement agglomeration in prehistoric Ireland | url = https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/brusselstown-ring-a-nucleated-settlement-agglomeration-in-prehistoric-ireland/C02CF0872F44AB918303D2A0474C9F9E | journal = Antiquity | volume = | issue = | publisher = Cambridge University Press | pages = | doi = 10.15184/aqy.2025.10247 | access-date = 2026-01-08 | doi-access= free
  • {{cite web | title = Wicklow hillfort designated Ireland's earliest proto-town | date = 2026-01-08 | website = RTÉ News | url = https://www.rte.ie/news/leinster/2026/0108/1552039-wicklow-hillfort/
  • {{cite web | title = New discovery may challenge theory Vikings built first Irish towns | first = Holly | last = Fleck | date = 2026-01-01 | website = BBC News | url = https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyw59v8978o

To the north end of the village on the weir of the River Slaney lies the ruins of an ancient monastery, Baltinglass Abbey, that has had many additions over the centuries; the original church is said to date from around 700 A.D.

The medieval Viscounts Baltinglass were from the Hiberno-Norman Eustace family, who also founded Ballymore Eustace. Their estates later passed to their cousin Sir Maurice Eustace, Lord Chancellor of Ireland 1660–1665. Sir Maurice did much to promote the development of the town, building a church, a school and a bridge, and encouraging new settlers.

The town gained national attention in 1950 when Labour TD for Wicklow James Everett replaced local postal worker, Helen Cooke, as sub-postmaster in the local post office. Everett appointed his supporter, Michael Farrell, to the position. This led to accusations of political cronyism nationally and a local row which became known as the 'Battle of Baltinglass'. Telegraph poles and phone lines were cut in protest and a shop run by the Farrell family was boycotted. Farrell resigned in December 1950 and Cooke was appointed to the role as sub-postmistress, a position she retained until her retirement in 1962.

The town centre mainly lies east of the river, along Main Street and ends at Market and Weavers Square. West of the river, the town is located around the N81/R747 crossroads, along Edward Street, Mill Street and Belan Street. Quinn's superstore is a landmark site on Mill Street to the north of the town.

In the 20 years between the 1996 and 2016 census, the population of the town almost doubled from 1,127 to 2,137 people.

Built heritage

Baltinglass has a number of archaeological and built heritage sites, such as Baltinglass Abbey and St. Mary's Church, and a number of other buildings of architectural and historical merit, several of which are located in the town centre.

Courthouse

Baltinglass courthouse is located on Market Square. It was built and has been remodelled on several occasions. It was damaged during the War of Independence in 1920. It was decommissioned by the Courts Service in 2013 and now houses a heritage and visitor centre.[[File:Baltinglass Abbey.jpg|thumb|[[Baltinglass Abbey]]]]

Baltinglass Abbey

The ruins of a medieval Cistercian abbey are situated on the north side of Baltinglass town. The abbey was founded by Diarmait Mac Murchada in 1148. The abbey was suppressed in 1536 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII. It is designated for protection as a national monument.

St. Mary's Church

St. Mary's is a late-19th century gothic Church of Ireland church located in the ruins of Baltinglass Abbey. It was built . The adjacent rectory was built at the same time.[[File:Pikeman, Baltinglass.jpg|thumb|upright|Statue of Sam McAllister]]

McAllister Monument

The monument which was unveiled in 1904 commemorates the involvement of Michael Dwyer and Sam McAllister in the 1798 Rebellion. Sam McAllister was a Presbyterian from Ulster who deserted the Antrim Militia and joined the rebels in Wicklow. He was killed in an ambush at a small cottage in Derrynamuck in the Glen of Imaal on 15 February 1799. McAllister drew the fire of British soldiers to allow Michael Dwyer to escape. The cottage is now an national monument. The monument also commemorates the participants of the rebellions of 1803, 1848. and 1867. The statue is made from Sicilian marble depicts Sam McAllister holding a rifle in his left hand and his right arm in a sling. The base of the statue was made from granite quarried in Ballyknockan.

Culture

Baltinglass has featured in film and theatre, being the location for the 1974 movie of Brian Friel's play Philadelphia, Here I Come! starring Donal McCann and Siobhán McKenna. It was also the location of the workhouse in Sebastian Barry's play The Steward of Christendom.

Sport

The local Gaelic Athletic Association club, Baltinglass GAA, has several pitches and teams. One of their early successes was the 1912 Junior title. In 1927 they won the Wicklow Senior Hurling title. 1958 saw Baltinglass win the Wicklow Senior Football Championship for the first time and, in 2020, they won their 23rd such title. In 1990 the club claimed the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship.

Transport

Rail

Baltinglass railway station opened on 1 September 1885, as part of the line from Sallins to Tullow. It closed to passengers on 27 January 1947 and to goods traffic on 10 March 1947, and closed altogether on 1 April 1959 along with the rest of the line. The site is now mainly occupied by a livestock mart, although the station building remains intact.[[File:BaltinglassSlaney4948.jpg|thumb|Apartments and weir on the [[River Slaney]] in Baltinglass]]

Bus

Bus services are available to Carlow via Rathvilly and Tullow, twice daily Mondays to Fridays. This route is operated by JJ Kavanagh and Sons, and it stops in Baltinglass outside Burkes shop, to pick up/drop off passengers. Bus Éireann route 132 provides a once-a-day, each-way commuter link to Dublin via Tallaght on the same days. There is also a limited range of Bus Éireann Expressway services (usually one or two journeys a day each way) linking Baltinglass to Dublin, New Ross, Waterford and Rosslare Europort, while Thursdays-only route 132 provides a link to and from Carnew.

In November 2022, Dublin Bus met with the Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore and agreed to investigate potentially extending the number 65 bus route to Baltinglass.

Baltinglass Local Electoral Area

The Baltinglass local electoral area of County Wicklow consists of the electoral divisions of Aghowle, Ballingate, Ballinglen, Ballinguile, Ballybeg, Baltinglass, Blessington, Burgage, Carnew, Coolattin, Coolballintaggart, Coolboy, Cronelea, Donaghmore, Donard, Dunlavin, Eadestown, Hartstown, Hollywood, Humewood, Imael North, Imael South, Kilbride (in the former Rural District of Baltinglass No.1), Killinure, Lackan, Lugglass, Money, Rath, Rathdangan, Rathsallagh, Shillelagh, Stratford, Talbotstown, The Grange, Tinahely, Tober, Togher and Tuckmill.

People

References

;Notes ;Citations

References

  1. (April 2016). "Sapmap Area - Settlements - Baltinglass". [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland).
  2. "Quinn's of Baltinglass, Naas & Athy - Winter League Final – March 2009".
  3. (7 January 2009). "Increase in Yields in Rental Market Reported". Tipperary Star.
  4. "Bealach Conglais/Baltinglass". [[Placenames Database of Ireland]].
  5. Joyce, Patrick Weston. (1906). "A Smaller Social History of Ancient Ireland". Longman Green & Co.
  6. Lewis, Samuel. (1837). "A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland". S Lewis & Co..
  7. Price, Liam. (1949). "The Place-name of County Wicklow". Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.
  8. Department of Posts and Telegraphs. (1923). "List of Irish Post Offices - Saorstát Éireann". Department of Posts and Telegraphs.
  9. "History".
  10. (1 July 2000). "The Battle of Baltinglass". Irish Times.
  11. (16 March 2019). "The fiery Battle of Baltinglass in 1950". Independent News & Media.
  12. Medcalf, David. (2019-03-16). "The fiery Battle of Baltinglass in 1950".
  13. "Baltinglass (Ireland) Census Town".
  14. "Baltinglass Courthouse, Market Square, Main Street, BALTINGLASS EAST, Baltinglass, WICKLOW".
  15. (2010). "Historical Sites in Baltinglass".
  16. Lee, Elizabeth. (2021-12-02). "Baltinglass residents object to transformation of disused courthouse".
  17. Buchanan, Myles. (2013-07-17). "After 200 years, court in Baltingass to close".
  18. "Baltinglass Abbey".
  19. "Baltinglass Cistercian Abbey".
  20. "Baltinglass St Mary, Diocese of Cashel, Ferns & Ossory".
  21. "Saint Mary's Church (Baltinglass), Church Lane, BALTINGLASS EAST, Baltinglass, WICKLOW".
  22. "Saint Mary's Church (Baltinglass), Church Lane, BALTINGLASS EAST, Baltinglass, WICKLOW".
  23. "Dwyer McAllister Cottage {{!}} Heritage Ireland".
  24. "Main Street, BALTINGLASS EAST, Baltinglass, WICKLOW".
  25. Gorry, Paul. (2020-07-05). "McAllister – a monument with history".
  26. (20 September 2020). "Another Wicklow senior title for Baltinglass as they carve out win over Tinahely". Irish Times.
  27. "A Brief History of Baltinglass GAA club". Baltinglass GAA Club.
  28. Ayres, Bob. (2003). "Irish Railway Stations". Railscot.
  29. "Baltinglass". eiretrains.com.
  30. (2022-11-22). "Baltinglass could be added to 65 bus route".
  31. (2018-12-19). "S.I. No. 638/2018 - County of Wicklow Local Electoral Areas and Municipal Districts Order 2018".
  32. Last, Jane. (November 9, 2009). "DJ Nikki off the air as mystery virus strikes". [[Evening Herald]].
  33. (19 August 2018). "Clues that point to the prime suspect in a 20-year mystery". Independent News & Media.
  34. (15 May 2023). "Gardaí still hopeful of charges against Larry Murphy for Deirdre Jacob murder". Irish Times.
  35. (2020). "Don Juan O'Brien". Cork University Press.
  36. (15 July 2009). "Kevin amongst Leinster's finest". Wicklow People.
  37. "Billy Timmins TD: Personal Details". Fine Gael.

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towns-and-villages-in-county-wicklowcivil-parishes-of-county-wicklowformer-boroughs-in-the-republic-of-ireland