Ballyknockan: Landscape Change and Quarrying Heritage

Ballyknockan lies on the north-western side of the Wicklow Mountains and overlooks the Blessington Lakes. Two distinct features come together here when choosing a destination: a landscape shaped by the reservoir and a village setting in which the quarrying past is visible. You can get to know Ballyknockan both through its views and through its working and cultural history.

Lakeside landscape and change

The landscape is also the result of a profound historical intervention: the valley was flooded in 1940 to create the Poulaphuca Reservoir. This dramatically changed the landscape seen from Ballyknockan. Together with the views of the Blessington Lakes, this event gives the landscape a sense of historical depth: the view is not merely a natural scene, but also tells the story of a fundamental transformation of the surrounding area. If you are interested in how history shapes the way a landscape is perceived, this connection between the village, the lake and the reservoir’s history offers a concrete point of reference.

Quarrying history in the village landscape

The quarrying history can be traced through dates and visible evidence. Christopher McEvoy began quarrying in Ballyknockan in 1840; the company was registered in 1865. In the past, granite from Ballyknockan was transported to Dublin by horse and cart and used for the Customs House. These connections give the local material a concrete historical reach: stone from Ballyknockan can also be found in a building in Dublin. Roads, buildings and walls around Ballyknockan are visible evidence of its industrial past. Partially preserved sculptures and other scattered features around the quarries illustrate the skill of historic stonemasons. A 2014 report by Geological Survey Ireland noted that some stonemasons in Ballyknockan continued to produce monuments and gravestones, mainly from stored granite.

Buildings and film history

Individual buildings also tell the story of changing uses. The Barn Cinema is now a private residence; originally, it served as both a cinema and a dance hall. The change from these two former functions to a private residence highlights the different chapters in the building’s history. On the outskirts of the village, the remains of the so-called House in a Day and a plaque about its history are visible from the roadside. The remains and the plaque add another tangible place of remembrance to the village’s history. Ballyknockan was also a filming location for “Widows’ Peak” (1994), starring Mia Farrow, Joan Plowright and Natasha Richardson, and “P.S. I Love You” (2007), starring Hilary Swank. The two productions mark different chapters in the village’s film history, each with its own year and cast.

County Wicklow in the wider travel picture

The wider destination of County Wicklow offers another perspective on natural and cultural landscapes. Wicklow Mountains National Park covers 20,000 hectares and is an important recreational area for locals and tourists. Glendalough is also in County Wicklow: Saint Kevin founded a monastery there in the 6th century. The surviving parts of Glendalough’s Monastic City include a round tower, numerous medieval stone churches and decorated crosses. This historical focus differs from Ballyknockan’s more recent industrial and craft history. The Wicklow Way was Ireland’s first waymarked long-distance walking trail and adds the history of walking to County Wicklow’s themes.

Discover more destinations: Baltinglass, Boystown, Newtownmountkennedy, Dunlavin, An Láithreach, Tinahely, Tulfarris Holiday Village, Oldbridge

For the wider travel overview: County Wicklow.