Baltinglass Abbey
| Mainistir Bhealach Conglais | |
View of Baltinglass Abbey looking across the Slaney
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 Location within Ireland
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| Monastery information | |
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| Other names | Vallis Salutis |
| Order | Cistercians |
| Established | 1148 |
| Disestablished | 1536 |
| Mother house | Mellifont Abbey |
| Diocese | Kildare and Leighlin |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Diarmait Mac Murchada |
| Architecture | |
| Functional Status | In ruins |
| Heritage designation | National Monument |
| Style | Romanesque |
| Site | |
| Location | Church Lane, Baltinglass, County Wicklow, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 52°56′38″N 6°42′35″W / 52.943886°N 6.709747°WCoordinates: 52°56′38″N 6°42′35″W / 52.943886°N 6.709747°W |
| Public access | yes |
Baltinglass Abbey is a former Cistercian abbey founded in 1148 and located in Baltinglass, Ireland. It is today a National Monument.
Baltinglass Abbey is located on Church Lane in Baltinglass, on the east bank of the River Slaney.
The site of Baltinglass Abbey is beside the River Slaney in a valley of the Wicklow Mountains which was a strategic mountain pass between the north and south parts of Leinster. The original name Belach Conglais means "pass of Cú Glas," referring to a mythological hero that was killed by wild boars. The archaeology of the surroundings testifies to the strategic importance of Baltinglass from prehistory. In 1148, Diarmait Mac Murchada, King of Leinster, founded a monastery on the site, at least partially to extend his influence on the region.
Baltinglass Abbey was established as a daughter house of Mellifont Abbey, a Cistercian abbey near Drogheda. Diarmait gave it the Latin name Vallis Salūtis, meaning "Valley of Salvation", and granted it eight parcels of land in the region as an endowment.
The first stage of building was completed by 1170, it became the mother house of Jerpoint Abbey in 1180 and in 1228 it is recorded that there were 36 monks and 50 lay brothers living at Baltinglass.
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