Baltinglass

Baltinglass brings together striking traces of its history, the River Slaney and paths along its banks. The town is well suited to a trip where you can explore both monastic and local history, as well as the surrounding landscape. When choosing a holiday rental, it is therefore helpful to consider whether you would rather discover historic sites or focus more on the Slaney and nature.

Monastic history and historic buildings

Baltinglass Abbey was founded in 1148 by Dermot MacMurrough, King of Leinster. It lies on the east bank of the Slaney, on the northern side of Baltinglass, and is a state-managed National Monument. Its founding year, location and protected status give the abbey a special place among the town’s historic attractions. If you are interested in monastic history, it offers a tangible starting point for exploring Baltinglass.

The Courthouse tells another chapter in the town’s history. It was built in the 1810s to replace the older courthouse and Bridewell prison on Mill Street, and subsequently served as a courthouse for almost two centuries. The Baltinglass Heritage Centre was established in 2001 and remains in the library, which is part of the former Courthouse building. This brings together the building’s former public purpose and its present-day connection with the library and Heritage Centre.

The McAllister Monument also commemorates a specific event: unveiled in 1904, it marks the 1798 Rebellion. Aldborough Bridge offers another historic point of interest. The three-arch bridge was built by the 1820s at the latest, although it may be several decades older. If you would like to discover different traces of the past in Baltinglass, these places tell distinct stories, from a rebellion to the development of public buildings and a bridge.

Explore the Slaney and its surroundings

The river also shapes the ways you can explore Baltinglass. From Baltinglass Town Park, a riverside path heads south along the banks of the Slaney. The park’s boardwalk also offers a view of a section of the old railway embankment, including a passage between the fields on either side of the former railway line. The riverbank and railway embankment represent two different aspects of the area: the landscape along the water and the visible trace of a former railway line.

The River Slaney Special Area of Conservation, or SAC, is part of Baltinglass’s natural heritage. The river is also the setting for the main canoeing sessions run by the Baltinglass Outdoor Education & Training Centre. Baltinglass serves as the starting point and centre of the South West Wicklow Heritage Trail, which suggests driving and cycling routes for exploring the area. These different connections can help you choose the focus of your stay according to your interests: local history, nature along the Slaney or exploring the wider area.

Baltinglass as a base for your stay

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Baltinglass, you can consider which of these perspectives matters most to you on your trip.

For more town pages, also discover Ashford, Ballyknockan, Rathnew, Wicklow, Arklow, Newtownmountkennedy, Tulfarris Holiday Village and Boystown.

For the broader travel overview: County Wicklow.