Little Brosna River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Little Brosna |
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Little Brosna River at Riverstown
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| Native name | An Bhrosnach Bheag |
| Country | Ireland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Near Dunkerrin, County Offaly |
| River mouth | Atlantic via the River Shannon |
| Length | 57.6 kilometres (35.8 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Shannon |
| Basin size | 662 km2 (256 sq mi) |
| Tributaries |
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The Little Brosna River is a river in Ireland. Its name in Irish is An Bhrosnach Bheag. The river starts near Dunkerrin in County Offaly. It flows for about 58 kilometers (36 miles). The Little Brosna then joins the famous River Shannon.
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Journey of the Little Brosna River
The Little Brosna River begins its journey near Dunkerrin. It flows close to the town of Birr. For some of its path, the river forms the border between County Offaly and County Tipperary.
The river flows over an area made of limestone. Limestone is a type of rock often found in areas where water can easily flow through it. After this, it passes through an area called a callow. Callows are low-lying grasslands that often flood, especially in winter. Finally, the Little Brosna joins the eastern part of the River Shannon near Victoria Lock. This is close to Clonahenoge and across from Meelick.
Rivers Joining the Little Brosna
Several smaller rivers and streams flow into the Little Brosna. These are called tributaries. The most important tributary is the Camcor River, which joins the Little Brosna near Birr. Other streams that feed into the river include the Pallas Stream, Bunow River, Clareen Stream, Golden Grove Stream, and Keeloge Stream.
Bridges Over the Little Brosna
Many bridges cross the Little Brosna River. These bridges connect different areas and have interesting histories.
Sharavogue Bridge
The Sharavogue Bridge was built in the early 1850s. It carries the R492 road over the river. This bridge marks the boundary between the areas of Sharavogue and Ballincor Demesne. It is known for its special design and history.
Railway Bridge
At Glasderry More, there is a metal railway bridge. This bridge has a criss-cross, or latticed, design. It used to carry a railway line over the Little Brosna, but the line is no longer in use.
Riverstown Bridge
The Riverstown Bridge has five arches. It carries the N52 road across the river. This bridge is quite narrow, only about 5.15 meters wide. Because it is so narrow, cars often have to wait for other vehicles to pass before they can cross.
Croghan Bridge
Croghan Bridge is an old stone bridge with three arches. It was built in the mid-18th century. This bridge carries the Croghan Road in Birr over the Little Brosna.
Ivy Bridge
Ivy Bridge is located inside the grounds of Birr Castle. It crosses the river just after the Camcor River joins the Little Brosna.
Derrinsallow Bridge
Built around 1850, Derrinsallow Bridge has three arches. It is made of carefully cut limestone and rough stone. This bridge connects County Tipperary and County Offaly.
New Bridge
New Bridge was built around 1820. It is the last bridge you cross before the Little Brosna joins the Shannon. It has five round arches made of limestone. The R438 road uses this bridge to cross between County Tipperary and County Offaly.
Fishing in the Little Brosna
The Little Brosna is a popular river for angling, which means fishing. It is especially well-known for its brown trout. In September 2012, a study was done near Riverstown to count the fish. This study used a special method called electric fishing. The survey found many brown trout, along with some lamprey, salmon, and stone loach.
Important Natural Areas
The Little Brosna River area includes important natural habitats. These areas are protected because they are home to special plants and animals.
Sharavogue Bog
Sharavogue Bog is a special type of wetland called a raised bog. It is located on the flat, low-lying land near the river at Sharavogue in County Offaly. Raised bogs are becoming very rare in Ireland and Europe. Sharavogue Bog is so important that it is listed as a Special Areas of Conservation by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. This means it is a protected area for nature.
Redwood Raised Bog
Redwood raised bog is found on the southern edge of the Little Brosna's flood plain, where it meets the Shannon. This area is part of the Little Brosna Callows Area. It is very important internationally for wildfowl (water birds) and as a great example of a flood plain ecosystem.
The reserve includes a bog dome that is still mostly untouched. It also has a drier part of another dome and an area of fen (another type of wetland). The untouched bog dome has plants typical of a raised bog. In its center, there are soft, "quaking" areas and many bog pools. This reserve was created in 1991 and is owned by the state.
