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Baltinglass
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Situated on the banks
of the river Slaney, Baltinglass is a market town with many unique
and interesting hill forts bearing testament to human occupation of
the area from prehistoric times.
Baltinglass lies in a pleasant part of the Slaney valley, with
Baltinglass Hill (1,258 feet) rising steeply in the east and
slightly lower hills beyond the river to the west. On the summit of
the hill are the remains of a large cairn containing a group of
Bronze Age burial chambers. From the summit there is a very fine
view over the surrounding country.
The local church, St. Joseph's was designed by John Bourke around
1860, this is a fine gothic revival church with a symmetrical
composition. The main entrance porch is in the projecting tower. The
interior is wide and spacious as the nave is only three bays longs
with extended transepts and a shallow choir.
The Wicklow mountains offer excellent walking and pony-trekking, or
a drive along the Military Road, which passes through the heart of
the mountains, takes in the finest Wicklow scenery.
The Curragh and
Punchestown racecourses are both within 20 miles, and there are some
superb gardens to visit. Powerscourt Gardens, near Enniskerry, has
formal gardens with fine views over the surrounding countryside, as
well as the highest waterfall in Ireland.
Football has been played in Baltinglass since the foundation of the
Gaelic Athletic Association. The local club now has two training
pitches to go along with the main playing pitch, dressing rooms,
weight rooms and a committee room. Currently the ground is
undergoing a major redevelopment, which has seen floodlights
installed, a stand being built and other improvements carried out.
The club currently fields three adult teams, one Senior and two
Junior.
The surrounding area is rich in archaeological and historical sites.
On the highest point of the hill north-east of the village lies a
passage grave from the stone age, whose outer walls are finished in
chalk not native to the area. On bright days is said to be visible
from Kildare's Curragh 48 km away. To the north end of the village
on the weir of the River Slaney lies the ruins of an ancient
monastery that has had many additions over the centuries; the
original church is said to date from around 700 A.D. |
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Baltinglass Holiday Homes - County Wicklow, Ireland