Baltinglass sits on the banks of the River Slaney in the west of County Wicklow. It is a historic town, with mentions of it found in the Annals of Irish history. The name of the town in Irish is ‘Bealach Conglais,’ ‘the way of Conglas.’
Beyond the edges of the town, there is evidence of settlement from the distant past. The surrounding hills are topped with forts and burial tombs. There are ancient stone circles hidden in forests.
In 1148, the Cistercian order arrived in the area and built Baltinglass Abbey as a home for monks and lay brothers. The abbey lasted many centuries before being abandoned during the Reformation in the 1500s. It was reused again in the 1800s, when the central tower was built. Today, the abbey is home to some of the wildlife of Baltinglass. Old stone walls can provide nesting sites for birds and bats. Across the walls of the abbey, a range of botanical life, including lichens, mosses, and flowering plants, can be seen.
The geological heritage of the area can be seen in the stones of Baltinglass Abbey. The range of rock types present show the diversity in bedrock that lies underneath the surrounding landscape. It has also inspired a town legend that the course of the River Slaney was changed by the Cistercian monks that settled here.
Citizen Science
We have installed a repeat photography post at the River Slaney Park. Take a photo and help us monitor changes in the environment.