Ballyhack, County Wexford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ballyhack
Baile Hac
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Village
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Ballyhack Harbour
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 Ballyhack
Location in Ireland
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| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | Wexford |
| Population
(2016)
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206 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
| Area code(s) | 051 |
Ballyhack (which can be said as Irish: Baile Hac or Irish: Baile Each in Irish) is a small village. You can find it in the southwest part of County Wexford, in Ireland. It sits on the eastern side of Waterford Harbour, which is where three rivers, called The Three Sisters, meet the sea.
Contents
History of Ballyhack Castle
The village is famous for its old castle. This castle is a tower house built around the year 1480 by the Normans. It used to belong to a group of knights called the Knights Hospitallers. They were like a special club of knights from long ago. People think the site was used even earlier, possibly since the 1100s.
During a time of conflict in Ireland around 1641, soldiers from Oliver Cromwell's army took over the castle. Later, it was used as a place to send people away from their homes. This is where the old saying "Go to Ballyhack" came from!
Today, the castle has been partly fixed up and is open for you to visit. Inside, you can see things from the Crusades (old wars fought by knights), learn about the Normans, and discover what life was like for monks long ago. You can even explore its dungeon, a special hole called a murder-hole (used to drop things on attackers), and old carvings. The castle is a very important historical site in Ireland.
What Does the Name Ballyhack Mean?
The name Ballyhack comes from Irish words. It can be written as Baile Hac or Baile Each. Experts believe it comes from the Irish word for "stable" (seasmhach) and "baile," which means town, village, or home. So, Ballyhack likely means "the place of the stable" or "the stable town."
Life in Ballyhack Village
Ballyhack has a few handy places for people living there. You'll find a shop, a pub, and an old school building. There's also a small quay where fishing boats can dock. In 2015, a special memorial was put up to remember people who were lost at sea.
One of the coolest things about Ballyhack is its ferry service. This ferry takes people and cars across the wide river mouth to Passage East in County Waterford. It's a fun way to travel!
Near the village, on a hill, there's an old cemetery. This is where the Ballyhack Church used to be, but it was closed in the late 1800s. In the graveyard, there's a record of a man named Laurence Power who supposedly lived to be 170 years old!
The local school in the village is called St. Catherine's NS. It's located on top of Ballyhack Hill and first opened its doors in 1959.
Sports in Ballyhack
If you like sports, Ballyhack has its own local teams. The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club here is called St James GAA. They play in the Wexford Championship. For soccer fans, the local team is Duncannon FC.
See also
In Spanish: Ballyhack para niños
