Echoes from the Hills Neolithic Art Project

Scoil Naomh Iósaf, Baltinglass

Echoes from the Hills was a collaborative art and heritage project bringing together Baltinglass TidyTowns, Scoil Naomh Iósaf, local historian Mairéad Kelly and artist Liliia Kyrychenko.

The project invited 160 pupils from 4th, 5th and 6th classes, along with pupils from the Réalta special classes, to explore the rich Neolithic heritage of the Baltinglass area. The children began with a history workshop at Baltinglass Library with local historian Mairéad Kelly, learning about the ancient landscape and the significant hillforts that surround their community.

This was followed by a series of creative workshops with artist Liliia Kyrychenko. The children sketched their own interpretations of three local hillforts — Castleruddery Ring, Rathcoran Hillfort and Brusselstown Hillfort — before working together to transform their ideas into a large-scale, mixed-media triptych mosaic.

A wide range of recycled and natural materials was used to create the artwork, including terracotta clay, rope, twine, buttons, white pebbles, bottle tops and plaster casts. Families and the wider community were also invited to contribute recycled materials, creating another connection between the project and the people of Baltinglass.

The finished mosaic was unveiled at Scoil Naomh Iósaf on June 6^th 2026 during Cruinniú na nÓg – Ireland’s national day of creativity for children and young people. The resulting artwork is a vibrant and lasting celebration of the area's Neolithic heritage, while also providing a creative and educational resource for the school community.

Through Echoes from the Hills, children were able to look more closely at the landscape around them, discover the history beneath their feet and express their understanding through contemporary art. The mosaic will continue to tell the story of Baltinglass's ancient hills to the school community and to future generations of pupils.

Echoes from the Hills was supported through the first round of the Creative Places Baltinglass Creative Community Activation Fund.