Balla Round Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Balla Round Tower |
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| Native name Irish: Cloigtheach Bhalla |
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Southern view
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| Type | Irish round tower |
| Location | Balla, County Mayo, Ireland |
| Height | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Built | 12th century |
| Architectural style(s) | Romanesque |
| Official name: Balla Round Tower | |
| Reference no. | 403 |
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The Balla Round Tower is a very old and tall stone tower in County Mayo, Ireland. It's a special type of building called an Irish round tower. Today, it is protected as a National Monument.
Contents
Where is Balla Round Tower?
The Balla Round Tower stands right in the middle of Balla town. You can find it on the west side of the Main Street. It's located within the town's modern graveyard.
A Look Back: History of the Tower
Early Days: A Monastery in Balla
Long, long ago, around the year 637 AD, a religious community called a monastery was started in Balla. It was founded by a person named Mo Chua of Balla.
When Was the Tower Built?
Experts believe the tower itself was built much later, in the 12th century. They can tell this from the special designs, or mouldings, found on the lower parts of its doorways.
What Was It Used For?
In the 1800s, the tower was used as a bell-tower. This means it held bells that would ring out over the town.
What Does the Tower Look Like?
The Balla Round Tower was built using red and brown sandstone. The stones were laid in neat, even rows. Today, the lower three levels of the tower are still standing.
Doorways and Windows
The tower has two doorways. One is on the east side, about 6.5 meters (21 feet) up from the ground. The other doorway faces north and is lower down. This north door has an arch and was probably added later. There is only one window in the entire tower, and it faces south.
Special Features
The stone above the east door, called a lintel, was actually an old cross slab that was reused. Also, two special stones called bullaun stones are built into the very bottom of the tower. These stones have cup-shaped hollows in them.
