Baltinglass Abbey, Cistercian monastery in Baltinglass, Ireland
Baltinglass Abbey are the ruins of a monastery featuring a nave with side aisles, chancel, square presbytery, and transepts connected to small chapels. The remains sit in a rural setting near the River Slaney in County Wicklow.
Founded in 1148 by Dermot MacMurrough, king of Leinster, the monastery served as an important religious center for the region. It operated for roughly 400 years until closure came during the 1536 Dissolution of the Monasteries.
The stone carvings on the capitals display intricate patterns featuring humans and animals, showing the artistic skill of Irish craftspeople from the 1100s. These details scattered throughout the ruins reveal the creative traditions of the period.
The site is easily accessible with free access to the ruins in an open, quiet landscape. The surrounding area contains multiple other archaeological sites from different periods worth exploring.
A glazed tile discovered on the site in 1941 shows Saint George and the Dragon with remarkable detail. This remains the only tile with human figures ever found in Ireland.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
