River Awbeg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Awbeg |
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River Awbeg at Castletownroche
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| Native name | An Abhainn Bheag |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Ballyhoura Mountains, County Limerick |
| River mouth | Munster Blackwater Bridgetown Abbey, Castletownroche, County Cork |
| Length | 51.10 km (31.75 mi) |
The Awbeg River is a lovely river in the south of Ireland. It's like a smaller helper river, called a tributary, that flows into the bigger Blackwater River. The Awbeg joins the Blackwater in County Cork. Its name comes from the Irish words Abha Bheag, which means "small river."
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Where Does the Awbeg River Flow?
The Awbeg River actually starts from two different streams!
The First Stream
One stream begins in County Limerick. It's called the Gralgne River. This stream then flows into County Cork. It goes under an old railroad bridge and then under Farran bridge. This bridge is on the road between Buttevant and Charleville.
The Second Stream
The second stream starts about two miles north of Liscarroll. It flows south, then north, and then west. It goes under Annagh Bridge. Finally, it meets up with the first stream at Scart Bridge.
The River's Journey
From Scart Bridge, the Awbeg River flows south through a town called Buttevant. Then it turns east and goes through Doneraile. It turns south again near Shanballymore and flows through Castletownroche. The Awbeg then joins the Blackwater River at a place called Poulcormac, close to Bridgetown Abbey.
What Lives in and Around the Awbeg River?
The Awbeg River is home to many interesting plants and animals.
River Environment
North of Buttevant, the river flows through flat farmland. But south of Buttevant, the river usually flows through a narrow valley. This valley has steep sides and lots of trees. Most of the river flows over a type of rock called limestone.
Plants of the Awbeg
Many different plants grow in the river. You might see dropwort, pondweed, club-rush, and water-cress. There are also plants from the Ranunculus family. Along the river's edge, you'll often find a narrow strip of marshy plants. This area is mostly covered by a tall grass called reed-canary grass.
Animals of the Awbeg
The Awbeg River is a special place for otters, which are playful mammals that love water. It's also an important breeding ground for Atlantic salmon. These fish swim up the river to lay their eggs. You can also find white-clawed crayfish here. These small creatures are a threatened species, which means they need our help to survive.
Ancient Bridges Along the Awbeg
The Awbeg River has some very old and interesting bridges.
The Clapper Bridge at Ballybeg Abbey
Near Ballybeg Abbey, there's a very old bridge called a clapper bridge. It was built way back in the 1200s by the Augustinian Friars. They built it to make it easier to cross the Awbeg River to get to their mill and lands. This bridge is made of huge, flat slabs of limestone. These slabs are about 3 meters (10 feet) long and just as wide. Each one weighs about a ton!
Knockanare Well
Knockanare Well is a special well located on the left side of the Awbeg River. It's about half a mile east of Buttevant and southeast of the Ballyhoura Mountains.
The "Gentle Mullagh"
A famous poet named Edmund Spenser lived near the Awbeg River. He called the river "the gentle Mullagh" or Mulla. He lived at Kilcolman Castle, which was very close to the river.
