Ballylarkin Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ballylarkin Church |
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| Ballylarkin Abbey | |
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Cill Bhaile Uí Lorcáin
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 Ballylarkin Church
Location in Ireland
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| 52°43′22″N 7°25′39″W / 52.722866°N 7.427629°W | |
| Location | Ballylarkin Upper, Freshford, County Kilkenny |
| Country | Ireland |
| Denomination | Church of Ireland |
| Previous denomination | Pre-Reformation Catholic |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | inactive |
| Style | Late Gothic |
| Years built | 1350 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 7.9 m (26 ft) |
| Width | 5.8 m (19 ft) |
| Number of floors | 1 |
| Materials | stone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Ossory |
Ballylarkin Church, also known as Ballylarkin Abbey, is an old church from the Middle Ages. It is a special National Monument located in County Kilkenny, Ireland. This means it is a very important historical site protected by the country.
Contents
Where to Find Ballylarkin Church
Ballylarkin Church is easy to find. It sits right next to the road. You can find it about 2.3 km (1.4 mi) southwest of a town called Freshford.
A Look at Ballylarkin's Past
Who Lived Here?
The area where Ballylarkin Church stands was once controlled by a family known as the Ó Lorcáin. They were an important local family. However, in 1326, another group called the Anglo-Norman Shorthalls (or Schortal) took over the land.
Building the Church
In 1350, a man named James Schortal and his wife, Catherine White, decided to build a church. They built Ballylarkin Church as a small building with just one main room. It has stood there ever since.
Special Features Added Later
Over time, more features were added to the church. In the 14th century, a triple sedilia was put into the south wall. A sedilia is a set of seats, usually for priests or important people during church services.
Exploring Ballylarkin Church's Design
Strong Walls and Entrances
The church was built to be strong. It had a chemin de ronde, which was like a path on top of the walls. This path allowed people to walk along the top of the church for defense. There was also a small entrance on the north side.
Beautiful Windows and Carvings
Ballylarkin Church features a lovely Gothic style window made from cut stone. Gothic architecture is known for its pointed arches and detailed designs.
Inside, you can see the triple sedilia in the south wall. Along the top edges of both the north and south walls, there are many corbel-stones. These are stones that stick out from the wall, often carved with designs. Some of these carvings show tracery, which are patterns made from stone bars.
Places for Sacred Items
Near the sedilia, there is a piscina. This is a special basin with a quatrefoil (four-leaf shape) design. It was used for washing sacred items. Next to the east window, you can find an ambry. An ambry is a small cupboard built into the wall, used for storing important church items.
Gallery
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A corbel stone on the outside wall
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The piscina inside the church
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More Gothic corbels with detailed carvings
