Baltinglass

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.[4][lower-alpha 1] 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".[5]

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.[6]

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.[6] The first of these, Mainistir an Bhealaigh, has been the name used since the beginning of the independent Irish state.[7]

The surrounding hills of the area is 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 (30 mi) away. 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 the replacement of a local postal worker, Helen Cooke, led to accusations of political cronyism nationally and a local row which became known as the 'Battle of Baltinglass'.[8][9]

The town centre mainly lies east of the river, along Main Street and ending 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.

Apartments and weir on the River Slaney in Baltinglass

Baltinglass has a number of natural, archaeological and built heritage sites; such as Baltinglass Hills, Baltinglass Abbey and St. Mary's Church, the River Slaney Special Area of conservation and a number of buildings of architectural and historical merit, several of which are located in the town centre.

In the 20 years between the 1996 and 2016 census, the population of the town almost doubled from 1,127 to 2,137 people.[1][10]

Statue of Michael Dwyer

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.

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.[11] In 1990 the club claimed the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship.[12]

• Nikki Hayes, radio presenter and DJ[15]
• John Thomond O'Brien, 19th century military officer and adventurer in South America[16]
• Kevin O'Brien, inter-county GAA player[17]
• Larry Murphy, rapist and suspected serial killer[18]
• Billy Timmins, Fine Gael TD[19]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Baltinglass.

• Baltinglass (Parliament of Ireland constituency)

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