On the evening of 18 December 2025 our society hosted a very successful event – we marked the 75th anniversary of the erection of the Holy Year Cross on the hill overlooking the town of Baltinglass. The Cross was originally erected on 10 December 1950 and blessed in a ceremony that Christmas Eve. Our event consisted of the screening of a 45 minute documentary by local film-maker John Hughes (Parkmore Studios) which was inspired by the history and heritage of Baltinglass Hill from the Neolithic era to the present day and the story of the Cross. Several local people contributed to the documentary which also touched on the delicate balance of responsible public access to local amenities and the private ownership of land. All proceeds went to the voluntary committee which has been maintaining the Cross for three quarters of a century.
A large crowd – just over 100 people, turned out on the evening ; a testament to the importance of this geographical feature in archaeological, historical, and cultural terms. Indeed the Cross itself has illuminated the night sky for people in the Baltinglass area since 1950. The documentary was followed by a very interesting Q&A session and lots of conversation. We thank John Hughes for sharing his great work. Judging by the enthusiastic feedback received on the night, we are looking forward to another screening in the near future.
Photo courtesy of John Hughes (Parkmore Studios)