Council and Wicklow Council. Wicklow and Council Heritage Plan in 2015 and funded by the Heritage Heritage the by funded and 2015 in Plan Heritage It was carried out as an action of the County Wicklow Wicklow County the of action an as out carried was It Commemorates 1916 programme. 1916 Commemorates with the local community of the Blessington Lakeside Area. Area. Lakeside Blessington the of community local the with County Wicklow Heritage Plan and as part of the Wicklow Wicklow the of part as and Plan Heritage Wicklow County Heritage Office of Wicklow County Council in association association in Council County Wicklow of Office Heritage County Council and The Heritage Council as an action of the the of action an as Council Heritage The and Council County the by co-ordinated was Project Heritage Lakeside The The Lakeside Heritage Project is supported by Wicklow Wicklow by supported is Project Heritage Lakeside The Photography: Valerie O’Sullivan • Designed by Brightidea.ie by Designed • O’Sullivan Valerie Photography: Produced by Active Me Tourism & Heritage Services Heritage & Tourism Me Active by Produced Web: www.countywicklowheritage.org / www.visitwicklow.ie / www.countywicklowheritage.org Web: Email: [email protected] [email protected] Email: with the Lakeside Heritage Group, Blessington, Co. Wicklow. Co. Blessington, Group, Heritage Lakeside the with association association in Council County Wicklow of Office Heritage The Published by: Published was built by Elisabeth Smith of Baltyboys House in the 1880s. the in House Baltyboys of Smith Elisabeth by built was deserted forge for many generations. Lacken Schoolhouse Schoolhouse Lacken generations. many for forge deserted lake. The Tipper family worked as blacksmiths at the now now the at blacksmiths as worked family Tipper The lake. made of the local granite with spectacular views across the the across views spectacular with granite local the of made The buildings in the picturesque village of Lacken are are Lacken of village picturesque the in buildings The (An Leacain) (An Lacken 11 area, up until the early 2000 when the last resident died. resident last the when 2000 early the until up area, electricity and endured the hardships of living in an isolated isolated an in living of hardships the endured and electricity inhabitants of the now deserted village survived without without survived village deserted now the of inhabitants ballaun stone, an old bog road and a deserted village. The The village. deserted a and road bog old an stone, ballaun a a cairns, includes Ballynultagh of landscape historic The (Baile an Ultaigh) an (Baile Ballynultagh 10 1 4 7 Blessington (Baile Coimín) Boystown (Bailte Bhuí) Ballyknockan Quarry This historic town is the ideal start and end point for a In Boystown (Bailte Bhuí), a restored Quaker Graveyard is Stonecutting has been practiced in the Ballyknockan area loop tour around Blessington Lakes. Some of the historic located at the entrance of Blessington Lakes Golf Course. since 1824, providing granite for many of Dublin’s most monuments in the town include the Credit Union Originally based in Dublin, there were Quakers in this area from famous buildings. The granite was transported by pony and House, Downshire Monument, Saint Mary’s Church of the seventeenth century and they worked mainly in the wool cart to the city. Wicklow Granite was used to rebuild and Ireland, Tyrrells House, Tram Marker, Toll House and industry. Local tradition has it that they were buried upright. renovate many of the buildings in Dublin destroyed during the Horseshoe Arch. the 1916 Rising. The McEvoy family have been quarrying granite at Ballyknockan since 1865. 2 5 8 Russborough House & Parklands Valleymount Bridge Ballyknockan (Bhuaile an Chnocáin) Russborough House & Parklands is a Palladian mansion built Valleymount Bridge was constructed following the flooding of The cottages and houses in this pretty village are made from local granite in the 1740’s for the First Earl of Milltown the valley in 1940. This was part of the Pollaphuca Reservoir from local granite, with some unique buildings such as to designs by Richard Castle. Today, wonderful guided house Scheme, designed to alleviate water shortages in Dublin. As a the barn cinema and the House in a Day. There are breath- tours are available from expert local guides, a self-guided result, the village of Ballinahown, 80 homesteads, 300 farms taking views of Blessington lakes from the village. The exhibition featuring 100 years at Russborough from 1916- and over 5,500 acres of land was permanently submerged by annual Ballyknockan Musical Festival event takes place here 2016, parkland walks, and a Maze & playground for the family. water. The land was generally arable, good quality land, where each summer. families and communities had lived generations. 3 6 9 Baltyboys (Bhailte Bhuí) Valleymount (An Chrois) Templeboden (Teampall Buadáin) The privately owned Baltyboys House was the home of Elisabeth This small pretty village contains an old schoolhouse, a This townland is named after Bishop Boden whose Smith, author of one of the most complete contemporary forge, a sweathouse and a distinctive church. Valleymount grave and the remains of his small church are located in accounts of daily life including household, local, national Church was built in 1803 in a Mexican style designed either Templeboden graveyard. The location of a cillín, the burial and international events during the famine years. Elisabeth by a former priest inspired by churches he saw on a visit to place for unbaptised children from the locality has been was the great grandmother of Ninette de Valois, founder of Malta or by parishioners who had visited or worked in New recovered and a plaque placed to mark the area the London Royal Ballet. Mexico. The church contains beautiful distinctive Harry Clarke stained glass windows. Naas, Dublin M7 Seefin Deerpark 621m R410 Wood R759 N P P R iv Rathturtle Moat er Lakeside Heritage Trail 1 L Ringworks i ey Sally Gap, Blessington Lakes, Co. Wicklow Wicklow Mtns, N81 11 Powerscourt The Blessington Lakes are nestled in the foothills of the Wicklow 1 Mountains. The waters of this man made reservoir form the centrepiece in the landscape around which a very rich and unique local history and heritage can be explored. Blessington 65 P Blessington Town Whether you are cycling, driving or walking, there are a wealth of stories and folklore to be discovered in the local landmarks; 2 P giving glimpses of Neolithic settlements and flooded villages; Lacken Village granite stone cutting traditions and the rebuilding of Dublin after the 1916 Rising. P P The lakes and surrounding area are popular with outdoor Lugnagun 10 enthusiasts and host a wonderful natural environment, 448m Castle recognised as a Special Area of Conservation for the P 3 Sorrel Hill internationally important population of Greylag Goose and a Russborough House & Parklands 599m host of overwintering birds. Look out for these and other wildlife as you explore this very special part of Wild Wicklow. For more about Our Wicklow Heritage visit Lackan 11 www.countywicklowheritage.org 10 Ballynultagh 2 Legend P P Cillín P Lakeside 1 Heritage Trail Baltyboys P Ballynultagh Heritage Trail Place of Interest Old r oads Graveyard ben 3 eat 9 St. Kevin’s Way h th P Walking e la Walking Trail ke Bullaun Stone Cycling R Blessington i v 9 Greenway Trail e Birdwatching r Pollaphuca L Black Hill i R413 Reservoir Blessington Greenway e 602m Fishing y Alternative Route 4 Golf Baltyboys House & Hill Cairn Russborough Parkland Walks Mountain Peak Common Hill Picnic Area Templeboden Walking Routes 5 P Old Road Parks & Forest P beneath the Lake 4 Viewing Point N81 65 65 Cairn P Parking 6 Valleymount 8 Moanbane Standing Stone P ‘The P Dam Lane’ Ballyknockan 703m Stone Circle Mullaghcleevaun 65 Bus Stop 7 Quarry 849m Tomb No swimming Boystown Quaker Graveyard 5 Silsean 698m Belfast Dublin Sweat House Naas R758 6 7 8 Galway Blessington Dublin St Kevin’s Wicklow Bed & Chair Mtns Limerick Valleymount Lake Viewpoint Barnacullian 714m Glendalough y r a e Cork v W i ’s R n i s v e g K n i t 0 1 2 3 4 S K Valleymount Church & Village Ballyknockan Quarry Ballyknockan Granite Village Glendalough St Kev in’s Kilometres Way.