This society has its origins in a public meeting in Fatima Hall, Baltinglass, on 7 March 1980, when it was decided that our organisation would be called the West Wicklow Historical Society (‘WWHS’). A steering committee was appointed to draw up a constitution and report back to another public meeting.That took place at the same venue on 15 April 1980.

The proposed constitution was adopted. It defined the area of the new organisation’s primary interest as the four western baronies of County Wicklow. This area stretches from the Dublin border in the north to the Wexford border in the south, bounded also by Kildare and Carlow. While people as far south as Carnew may not regard themselves as from ‘West Wicklow’, the society embraces all of the western half of the county, and environs. At that April meeting Eamon Kane of Castledermot volunteered to guide the new WWHS on its first outing, which took place on 22 June 1980 in Graney and Castledermot, County Kildare, with a large attendance.

Almost immediately the society began gathering old photographs and images of historical significance and these were initially exhibited within the first few years, in Baltinglass, Dunlavin and Blessington. The inaugural Journal of the WWHS was compiled in 1983. To finance its publication, two members went door to door in Baltinglass, selling advance copies. Further pre-publication orders were accepted in late 1983. The Journal was launched at the new Scoil Chonglais building in Baltinglass in January 1984 by Donal Begley, Chief Herald of Ireland. Further editions appeared in 1985/86 and 1989, before a very long hiatus. Two of the more senior people involved in the WWHS and who possessed a great store of knowledge were elected Honorary Life Members in the early years. They were Ben Case of Spynans and Jimmy Doyle of Parkmore, Baltinglass. They were joined in subsequent years by Paul Baker of Ladystown, Rathvilly, Joe Doyle of Tuckmill, and Dorothy Leonard of Knockpatrick, Graney. Others who played an important role in the WWHS in the very early days were Mona Morrin, Peadar Cullen, Phyllis Flanagan, Donal McDonnell, Maeve Baker, Stanley Jackson and Paul Gorry.

In 1985 the Society sponsored a six-month indexing project mainly funded by the government agency AnCO. It was intended to be an initial phase of indexing of parish registers and gravestone inscriptions but it proved too costly for the WWHS’s resources. This project was superseded by the indexing projects whose material now forms the database of the Wicklow Family History Centre.

Those who helped to run the society as it progressed towards the end of the twentieth century included Irene Mogg, Joseph Rattigan, John Lynott and P.J. Hanlon. The excursion to Graney in 1980 was followed by innumerable such events within West Wicklow, neighbouring areas and further afield. Leisurely and history-lite midsummer ‘evening strolls’ have been held in every conceivable corner of West Wicklow. Lectures on local and national topics have been held in various venues in Baltinglass, Grangecon, Hollywood, Kiltegan, Rathdangan and Tinahely.

Our Story

Since 1980

Leisurely and history-lite midsummer ‘evening strolls’ have been held in every conceivable corner of West Wicklow

This society has its origins in a public meeting in Fatima Hall, Baltinglass, on 7 March 1980, when it was decided that our organisation would be called the West Wicklow Historical Society (‘WWHS’). A steering committee was appointed to draw up a constitution and report back to another public meeting.That took place at the same venue on 15 April 1980.

The proposed constitution was adopted. It defined the area of the new organisation’s primary interest as the four western baronies of County Wicklow. This area stretches from the Dublin border in the north to the Wexford border in the south, bounded also by Kildare and Carlow. While people as far south as Carnew may not regard themselves as from ‘West Wicklow’, the society embraces all of the western half of the county, and environs. At that April meeting Eamon Kane of Castledermot volunteered to guide the new WWHS on its first outing, which took place on 22 June 1980 in Graney and Castledermot, County Kildare, with a large attendance.

Almost immediately the society began gathering old photographs and images of historical significance and these were initially exhibited within the first few years, in Baltinglass, Dunlavin and Blessington.

The inaugural Journal of the WWHS was compiled in 1983. To finance its publication, two members went door to door in Baltinglass, selling advance copies. Further pre-publication orders were accepted in late 1983. The Journal was launched at the new Scoil Chonglais building in Baltinglass in January 1984 by Donal Begley, Chief Herald of Ireland. Further editions appeared in 1985/86 and 1989, before a very long hiatus. Two of the more senior people involved in the WWHS and who possessed a great store of knowledge were elected Honorary Life Members in the early years. They were Ben Case of Spynans and Jimmy Doyle of Parkmore, Baltinglass. They were joined in subsequent years by Paul Baker of Ladystown, Rathvilly, Joe Doyle of Tuckmill, and Dorothy Leonard of Knockpatrick, Graney. Others who played an important role in the WWHS in the very early days were Mona Morrin, Peadar Cullen, Phyllis Flanagan, Donal McDonnell, Maeve Baker, Stanley Jackson and Paul Gorry.

In 1985 the Society sponsored a six-month indexing project mainly funded by the government agency AnCO. It was intended to be an initial phase of indexing of parish registers and gravestone inscriptions but it proved too costly for the WWHS’s resources. This project was superseded by the indexing projects whose material now forms the database of the Wicklow Family History Centre.

Those who helped to run the society as it progressed towards the end of the twentieth century included Irene Mogg, Joseph Rattigan, John Lynott and P.J. Hanlon. The excursion to Graney in 1980 was followed by innumerable such events within West Wicklow, neighbouring areas and further afield. Leisurely and history-lite midsummer ‘evening strolls’ have been held in every conceivable corner of West Wicklow. Lectures on local and national topics have been held in various venues in Baltinglass, Grangecon, Hollywood, Kiltegan, Rathdangan and Tinahely.

Our Story

Since 1980

Leisurely and history-lite midsummer ‘evening strolls’ have been held in every conceivable corner of West Wicklow

Some of the more unusual events held by the WWHS included a one-day conference to mark the bicentenary of the 1798 Rebellion, the ‘Glimpses of Baltinglass’ exhibition based on material held by Richard B. Lennon, and a talk with interspersed songs about the life of the singer Delia Murphy.