Ballylahan Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ballylahan Castle |
|
|---|---|
| Native name Irish: Caisleán Átha Leathain |
|
| Ballylaghan Castle | |
 |
|
| Type | tower house |
| Location | Ballylahan, Strade, County Mayo, Ireland |
| Height | 12 m (39 ft) |
| Built | 1239 |
| Owner | State |
| Official name: Ballylahan Castle | |
| Reference no. | 325 |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
Ballylahan Castle is an old stone tower house located in County Mayo, Ireland. It is also a National Monument, which means it's an important historical site protected by the government.
Contents
Where is Ballylahan Castle?
Ballylahan Castle is found about 2.3 kilometers (1.4 miles) northeast of a place called Strade. It sits right on the south bank of the River Moy.
The History of Ballylahan Castle
Who Built Ballylahan Castle?
This castle was built way back in 1239. A person named Jordan de Exeter had it constructed. He was a very important official called a Sheriff in the area of Connacht at that time. Ballylahan Castle was the main home for his family, the Mac Siúrtáin (also known as MacJordans).
Attacks on the Castle
In 1316, the castle faced a big attack. The King of Connacht, Fedlim Ó Conchobair, led this attack. The castle was almost completely destroyed during this time.
What Does Ballylahan Castle Look Like?
The Main Entrance
The main way to get into Ballylahan Castle was from the east side. This entrance was protected by two round towers. Today, only one of these towers is still standing.
Inside the Castle Walls
Once you entered, you would find yourself in an irregular hexagon-shaped area called a bawn. A bawn is an enclosed courtyard or yard, often found around tower houses. There are signs that other buildings once stood inside this bawn, especially along the western wall. The bawn also has a strong, sloping base, called a base-batter, which made the walls harder to attack. This is especially clear at the northwest corner.
