McAllister – a monument with history

At the age of 116, Sam McAllister is the oldest resident of Baltinglass.  He has stood at the centre of Main Street since his unveiling on 8 May 1904.  He has become a symbol of Baltinglass and even a minor place-name.  People often meet ‘at McAllister’.  Pop-up...

Family Portraits and Echoes of the Past

​A week ago I attended a marathon of an event.  It lasted from 10.30am to sometime about 9pm, long after I had left.  It was absorbing.  It was full of surprises, good and bad.  It was a glimpse into the past, and it said a lot about the present Irish economy.  For...

Sam McAllister: Our Oldest Resident

​If you were to take a photograph to capture the essence of Baltinglass you might think of a general view of the town from the Carlow Road, or one of the Abbey from across the river.  But you’re as likely to think of the McAllister monument as your symbol of...

Family Connections

Aldborough memorial, St Mary’s Church, Baltinglass ​Oliver and Margaret Walsh may never have been internationally recognised figures, but they had a significant impact on the world.  Were it not for them the Abbey Theatre might never have been founded, the word...