Baltinglass

Baltinglass (Irish: Bealach Conglais, meaning "Road of Cúglas") is a town in south-west County Wicklow, Ireland. It is situated on the River Slaney near the border with County Carlow and County Kildare, on the N81 road. Its Irish name means "the way of Conglas", Conglas being a member of the mythological warrior collective the Fianna. A previous Irish-language name for the village, bringing to mind its monastic past, was Mainistir an Bhealaigh. 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 (30 mi) 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. The medieval Viscounts Baltinglass were from the Hiberno-Norman Eustace family, who also founded Ballymore Eustace. The town centre is focussed mainly east of the river, along Main Street and ending at Market and Weavers Square. West of the river, the town lies around the N81/R747 crossroads, along Edward Street, Mill Street and Belan Street. Quinn's supermarket is a landmark site on Mill Street to the North of the town.^{[citation needed]} The population of the town has grown considerably in recent years to its current population of 1,735 people and it is expected to reach 3,000 by the year 2016.