Assaroe Falls facts for kids

Image from the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) Company's illustrated guide to the sporting and touring grounds of the north of Ireland (1908), which supposed that passengers arriving at Ballyshannon railway station would be impressed with the river at Ballyshannon.

Assaroe Falls, also called Cathaleen’s Falls, was a famous waterfall in Ireland. It was located on the River Erne near the town of Ballyshannon in County Donegal. The waterfall was known for its beauty and for salmon jumping up the falls.

The Story Behind the Name

The name Assaroe Falls comes from the Irish name Eas Aoidh Ruadh. This means "the waterfall of Red Hugh." The falls were named after a legendary figure called Aodh Ruadh. According to old stories, Aodh Ruadh slipped and fell from the waterfall. Sadly, he drowned there.

Why the Falls Changed

The beautiful Assaroe Falls no longer exist in their original form. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, a large project began. This project was to build the Cathaleen's Fall hydroelectric power station. A hydroelectric power station uses the power of moving water to create electricity.

To make enough power, the water from the River Erne needed to be controlled. Engineers built a large wall, called a dam, upriver. This dam created a new body of water known as Assaroe Lake. They also dug a channel to make the riverbed lower through Ballyshannon. These changes helped to increase the amount of water flowing to the power station. This extra water pressure was needed to spin the turbines and make electricity.

Hopes for the Future

Many people remember the amazing salmon leap at Assaroe Falls. Salmon are fish that swim upstream to lay their eggs. The waterfall was a natural obstacle that salmon would bravely jump over. Today, there is a campaign to bring back this historic salmon leap. People hope to restore the river so salmon can once again jump where the falls used to be.