Aghade Holed Stone facts for kids
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Gallán Pollta Áth Fhád
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 Location in Ireland
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| Alternative name | Cloghaphoill |
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| Location | Aghade, Tullow, County Carlow, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 52°46′12″N 6°44′48″W / 52.770101°N 6.746804°W |
| Width | 1.56 metres (5.1 ft) |
| Height | 2.4 metres (7.9 ft) |
| History | |
| Material | granite |
| Founded | early Bronze Age, 2000–1600 BC |
The Aghade Holed Stone, also known as Cloghaphoill, is a very old and special stone in Aghade, County Carlow, Ireland. It's so important that it's protected as an Irish National Monument. This huge stone has a mysterious hole right through it, and it holds many secrets and stories from long ago.
Contents
The Amazing Aghade Holed Stone
What Does It Look Like?
The Aghade Holed Stone is made of granite, a very strong type of rock. It stands about 2.4 meters (nearly 8 feet) tall. That's taller than most adults! It's also about 1.56 meters (5 feet) wide and fairly thick. This giant stone weighs almost 5 tonnes, which is like the weight of a large elephant!
The most interesting part is the hole near the top. It's about 32 centimeters (12.5 inches) across. You could probably fit your head through it!
A Peek into the Past: History and Legends
Ancient Uses
Experts believe the Aghade Holed Stone is incredibly old. It was likely placed here during the early Bronze Age, between 2000 and 1600 BC. That's over 4,000 years ago!
Archaeologists think the stone might have been a door to a megalithic tomb. A megalithic tomb is a very old burial place made from huge stones. The hole in the stone might have been used for special rituals. People could have passed food or other gifts through it for the spirits of the dead.
The Legend of Eochaid
The stone is also part of an exciting old Irish story. This story is found in a book from the 1300s called the Book of Ballymote. It tells about a powerful king named Niall of the Nine Hostages.
Niall once went to Leinster and captured a man named Eochaid. Eochaid was the son of a king from the 400s. Niall tied Eochaid to the Aghade Holed Stone. He put a chain around Eochaid's neck and threaded it through the stone's hole. Then, Niall sent nine of his best fighters to kill Eochaid.
But Eochaid was very strong and brave! He twisted and pulled with all his might. The chain snapped in two! Eochaid grabbed the broken piece of the chain, which had an iron bolt on it. He then fought off all nine attackers by himself! This amazing escape made the Aghade Holed Stone famous in Irish legends.
Healing Powers?
For many centuries, people believed the Aghade Holed Stone had special powers. Up until the 1700s, it was a common practice to bring sick children to the stone. People would pass the children through the hole. They hoped this would cure them of their illnesses. This shows how important and magical the stone was to people long ago.
