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Balla

Site/Artefact Balla Type Round Tower Site Number SMR Mayo 090 02404 National Grid Reference 125490 East 284510 North Map ( 1:50000) Ordnance Survey Ireland, Discovery Series No 31 List of Sites and Artefacts Click Here Interactive Map Click Here

Round Tower at Balla, Co Mayo (Photo: Christiaan Corlett)

Description
The round tower at Balla is one of five round towers in County Mayo, the others being at Aghagower, Killala, Meelick and Turlough. Today the tower stands at a height of 10m but originally would have reached a height of 30m. Built in sandstone the tower has two distinct sections of coursed masonry construction suggesting an early phase followed by a later one perhaps in the 12th century (Lalor, 1999). Evidence for the primary function of these towers is found in the Gaelic word cloicthech, meaning bell house (Edwards, 1996). They would have also been used as a safe location for the relics, books and other valuables. Given their height, they would have afforded an expansive view of the surrounding countryside. The dating of round towers is a controversial subject with suggested dates as early as the sixth or seventh century but the first mention of them in the annals is 950 when a tower in Meath was attacked and burnt by Vikings. Essentially Irish, the architectural influences reaching Ireland from the Carolingian Continent must have played their part. It has been suggested that detached campanili, like those in Ravenna, Northern Italy could have inspired the Irish builders (Harbison, 2000). The only other Irish influenced examples are found in Abernethy and Brechin in Scotland and Peel in the Isle of Man (Edwards, 1999).

Excavation Details
Not Available

Access/Ownership
Free access to site. No access to the tower

References

• Edwards, N. 1999, The Archaeology of Early Medieval Ireland, London, pp 127-128.
• Harbison, P. 2000, The Art and Architecture of Ireland, Dublin
• Lalor, B. 1999, The Irish Round Tower, Origins and Architecture Explored, Cork, pp 189-191 

Check out the following sections of the website for related information:

• Aghagower
• Vikings

Mayo Sites and Artefacts

1. Mayo Abbey 2. Balla 3. Ballintubber Abbey 4. Tóchar Phadraig 5. Aghagower 6. Lankhill 7. Boheh 8. Croagh Patrick Summit 9. Carrownalurgan 10. Ardoley 11. Kiladangan 12. Glaspatrick 13. Shrawee 14. Clare Island - Strake 15. Clare Island - Lecarrow 16. Caher Island 17. Durless

18. Carrowmore 19. Knappaghmanagh 20. Cushalogurt 21. Carrowkeel Ecclesiastical Remains 22. Thornhill 23. Carrowkeel Murrisk 24. Carrowkeel Cahernaran 25. Carrowmacloughlin Cairn-1 26. Carrowmacloughlin Cairn-2 27. Carrowmacloughlin Cairn-3 28. Carrowmacloughlin/ Glencally/ Teevenacroaghy 29. Carrowmacloughlin Sweathouses 30. Glaspatrick Holy Well

31. Glaspatrick Rath-1 32. Glaspatrick Early Ecclesiastical Remains 33. Glaspatrick Ringfort 34. Glaspatrick Rath-2 35. Glaspatrick Ecclesiatical Remains 36. Glaspatrick Altar 38. Glaspatrick Graveyard 39. Murrisk Demesne Standing Stone-1 40. Murrisk Demesne Standing Stone-2 41. Murrisk Demesne Standing Stone-3 42. Teevenacroaghy

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