Enfield Blackwater facts for kids

The River Blackwater is a cool river in Ireland. People also call it the Enfield Blackwater or Kildare Blackwater. Its name in Irish is Irish: An Abhainn Dubh. It flows through two counties: Kildare and Meath.

This river is a tributary, which means it's a smaller river that flows into a bigger one. The River Blackwater joins the River Boyne. The Boyne then flows all the way to the Irish Sea near Drogheda. The Blackwater is about 24.5 kilometers (15 miles) long.

Where the River Flows

The Enfield Blackwater starts in the northern part of County Kildare. Its source is near a place called Timahoe. From there, it flows towards the northwest.

Journey Through Counties

As the river travels, it goes past the Knockanally Golf Club. It then flows through the town of Johnstown Bridge. For a while, the river actually forms the border between Kildare and County Meath.

Crossing Paths

The river passes under some important roads. The M4 motorway crosses over it just west of Enfield. The river also goes under the Royal Canal using a special bridge called the Blackwater Aqueduct. This happens near Kilmorebrannagh and Kilmurry.

The river continues to mark the county border. Then, it turns northwards near Longwood. Here, it flows under the R160 road.

Joining the Boyne

Finally, the Enfield Blackwater flows into the River Boyne. This meeting point is in Donore, County Meath. It's about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) southwest of Trim, County Meath. The rivers join just below a place called Inchamore Bridge.

River Wildlife

The main type of fish you can find in the River Blackwater is the Brown trout. These fish are common in many rivers and streams in Ireland.