Baltinglass
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Baltinglass Bealach Chonglais |
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Location | ||
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Irish Grid Reference S863886 |
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Statistics | ||
Province: | Leinster | |
County: | County Wicklow | |
Elevation: | 133 m | |
Population (2002) | 1,260 |
Baltinglass (Bealach Chonglais in Irish) is a village in south-west County Wicklow, Ireland. It is situated near the border with County Carlow and County Kildare, on the N81 road. The village is on the River Slaney. It's Irish name means the way of chonglais who was a member of the mythological warrior collective the 'Fianna'. The previous Irish language name for the village was Mainistir an Bealagh, bringing to mind it's monastical past.
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 30 miles 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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