[2] Founded in 1148 by Diarmait Mac Murchada, the King of Leinster, Baltinglass Abbey sits beside the River Slaney in a valley of the Wicklow Mountains.

[3] The original name Belach Conglais means "pass of Cú Glas," referring to a mythological hero that was killed by wild boars.

[6] Diarmait gave it the Latin name Vallis Salutis, meaning "Valley of Salvation", and granted it eight parcels of land in the region as an endowment.

[7] The first stage of the building was completed by 1170, it had become the mother house of Jerpoint Abbey in about 1160,[8] and in 1228 it is recorded that there were 36 monks and 50 lay brothers living at Baltinglass.

[13][14][15] [16] The surviving church (56 m in length) and some of the cloister date from the 12th century, consisting of the nave with aisles, chancel, square presbytery with three-light window and a pair of transepts from which small chapels project.