River Dinan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Dinan |
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New Dinin Bridge
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| Native name | An Deighean |
| Other name(s) | River Dinin, River Deen |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | southeast County Laois |
| River mouth | Celtic Sea via River Nore |
| Length | 39.83 kilometres (24.75 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 153 square kilometres (59 sq mi) |
The River Dinan, also known as the Deen or Dinin, is a cool river in Ireland. It flows through two counties: County Kilkenny and County Laois. Imagine a journey from the countryside all the way to the sea!
The River's Journey
The River Dinan starts its adventure in the southeast part of County Laois. It begins as a small stream and then flows westwards. You can see it pass under the N78 at a spot called Ormond Bridge.
As it continues its journey, the Dinan meets another river, the Clogh River. This happens close to the border with County Kilkenny. The river then keeps flowing southwest, passing under Massford Bridge.
The Dinan makes its way through the town of Castlecomer. From there, it winds through the beautiful countryside of Kilkenny. It flows past Jenkinstown Park, a lovely place to visit. Finally, the Dinan goes under the N77 and joins a bigger river, the River Nore. This meeting point is at Dunmore West, just upstream from Kilkenny City.
The river is so important that it even gave its name to an old area called the Barony of Fassadinin. This name means "Wilderness along the Dinin," showing how wild and natural the area once was around the river.
Amazing River Wildlife
The River Dinan is home to many different kinds of fish and other creatures. It's like a busy underwater neighborhood!
Here are some of the fish you might find swimming in its waters:
- Three-spined stickleback: These small fish are known for their sharp spines.
- Atlantic salmon: Young salmon often live here before heading out to the ocean.
- Stone loach: These fish like to hide among the stones at the bottom of the river.
- Brook lamprey: A type of jawless fish that looks a bit like an eel.
- European river lamprey: Similar to the brook lamprey, but it spends part of its life in the sea.
Many white trout also live in the Dinan. These are a type of brown trout that have a silvery color, making them look a bit like salmon. A famous writer named Tim Pat Coogan even wrote about seeing them in his memories of the river.
There's also an old story about the River Dinan. Local tales say that Saint Patrick, a very important saint in Ireland, once put a curse on the reeds growing along the riverbanks. The story says that because of this, the tops of the reeds always looked withered or dried up. It's a fun piece of local folklore!
