Glenamoy River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glenamoy River |
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Road bridge over the Glenamoy River at Glenamoy, County Mayo
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| Native name | Abhainn Ghleann na Muaidhe |
| Country | Ireland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Glencalry, County Mayo 8m |
| River mouth | Atlantic Ocean via Sruwaddacon Bay |
| Length | 23 kilometres (14 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 85 square kilometres (33 sq mi) |
The Glenamoy River (in Irish: Abhainn Ghleann na Muaidhe) is a river in the northern part of County Mayo, in the northwest of Ireland. It's well-known for having lots of sea trout and salmon, which are popular fish for angling.
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Where the River Flows
The Glenamoy River starts its journey in places called Glencalry and Barroosky. It flows for about 23 kilometers (14 miles). For most of its path, it flows west through Glenamoy. It then heads towards the village of Gortacragher. Here, it joins the Muingnabo River at Sruwaddacon Bay. The wide part where the river meets the sea, called the estuary, is about 8.4 kilometers (5.2 miles) long.
The area of land that drains into the Glenamoy River is called its catchment area. This area covers 14 square kilometers (5.4 square miles). The river starts at an elevation of 8 meters (26 feet) above sea level. Sometimes, when there's a lot of rain, the river can flood. When it floods, the water can become very strong and fast.
The land around the river is mostly made of schist rock. The main type of land use here is peatland, which is a kind of wetland. There are also some forests and farms. The river flows through two special nature areas. These are the Slieve Fyagh Bog Special Area of Conservation (SAC) to the south and the Glenamoy Bog Complex SAC to the north and west.
Fishing Spots
The Glenamoy River is a good place for fishing, especially from July to early October. Many people come here to catch grilse (young salmon) and sea trout. There are several popular spots along the river for fishing, including:
- Poll a Mhuileann (Mill Pool)
- Poll a Bhalla (Wall Pool), also known as Wheelchair Pool
- Bun Na Muinge (Muing Pool)
- Poll na Bearaice (Barrack Pool)
- Poll Fada (Long Pool)
- Poll a' Droichead (Bridge Pool)
- Poll Padraig a Bhainc (Pat the Banks Pool)
- Spiorog
Big Floods in the Past
The Glenamoy River has seen some big floods over the years. One notable flood happened in August 1933. After very heavy rain, the Muingnabo and Glenamoy rivers swelled up. Hay and other things were washed away downstream. The strong water even destroyed three arches of an old bridge.
The Irish Times newspaper reported on August 29, 1933, that it was a "night of terror" for people in Erris, County Mayo. Crops were ruined, and bridges were swept away. People living near Glencastle had to leave their homes. The report said that rain poured down from midday until midnight. The Glenamoy bridge was completely washed away, making it impossible to travel between Belmullet and Ballycastle.
The Story of Annie Brady's Bridge
Near the Glenamoy River, there was once a special bridge called Annie Brady's Bridge. In 1841, a new road was planned from Glenamoy to Carrowteige. It was finished in 1846, but no bridge was built over the Muingnabo River. People had to cross the river using an unsafe path of stones.
During a very difficult time in Ireland called the Great Famine (around the mid-1800s), many people had to leave their homes and move to other countries. This river crossing became a sad place where families said goodbye to their loved ones who were leaving. Many tears and sad scenes were seen here.
Annie Brady was the wife of the local Inspector of Fisheries. She loved the beautiful scenery of the area and saw these sad goodbyes. She decided to help by raising money to build a bridge. Her goal was to make it safer for people to travel and to allow families to go further with those they were saying goodbye to. The bridge was built in 1886. Sadly, it was swept away by a big flood in 1933. A new bridge was built to replace it, and that bridge is still there today.
Fishing and Fun on the River
The Glenamoy River is a popular spot for fishing. Under the 2011 Salmon Angling Regulations, people are allowed to fish here. There are rules about how many fish you can catch each day. For example, from May 1 to May 11, you can keep one fish per day. From May 12 to August 31, you can keep three fish per day. In September, it goes back to one fish per day. You also need a special tag for any fish you keep.
There is a fishing club called The Glenamoy Community Angling Association. This club was started in 1999 and gives out permits (special tickets) for fishing on the river. The river flows through several villages, including Glencalry, Glenamoy, Spadow, and Gortacragher. A great addition to the fishing area is a special pool that is easy for people in wheelchairs to access.
