River Moy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Moy |
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River Moy at Foxford, County Mayo
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| Native name | An Mhuaidh |
| Etymology | Old Irish muad, "noble" |
| Country | Ireland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Ox Mountains, County Sligo |
| River mouth | Atlantic Ocean via Killala Bay |
| Length | 110 kilometres (68 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 2,086 square kilometres (805 sq mi) |
| Tributaries |
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The River Moy (called An Mhuaidh in Irish) is a very important river in the northwest of Ireland. It flows through beautiful landscapes and has a long history. The Moy is well-known for its salmon fishing and its lovely valley, which attracts many visitors. It starts in the Ox Mountains and flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
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What's in a Name?
The River Moy has had a few names over time! An ancient writer named Ptolemy wrote about a river called Libniu around 200 AD. This was probably the River Moy. Later, around 700 AD, it was called Modam fluvium. The name An Mhuaidh is used in modern Irish. It might come from an old Irish word, muad, which means "noble." So, the River Moy could mean "The Noble River"!
Where Does the River Moy Flow?
The River Moy begins at the bottom of the Ox Mountains in County Sligo. It flows for about 110 kilometers (that's about 68 miles!). For most of its journey, it flows southwest. It then enters County Mayo and passes close to Swinford.
Towns Along the Moy
The river continues its journey through Foxford. After Foxford, it turns north near the village of Kilmore. It then heads towards the town of Ballina. This is where the river finally reaches the Atlantic Ocean at Killala Bay.
River Size and Flow
The area of land that drains into the River Moy is 2,086 square kilometers (about 805 square miles). This is called its catchment area. On average, the River Moy sends about 61.5 cubic meters of water into Killala Bay every second. That's a lot of water! The part of the river that meets the sea, called the Moy Estuary, is about 5 miles long. It starts at Ballina and stretches out into Killala Bay.
The Moy Valley
The valley around the River Moy is a popular place for visitors. It has many old churches and abbeys, which are ancient religious buildings. These historical sites, along with the natural beauty, make the Moy valley a great place to visit.
The River Moy and Salmon Fishing
The River Moy was once famous for being one of the best places in Europe to catch salmon. However, in recent times, the number of salmon in the river dropped a lot. This was mainly because of a fishing method called "drift net fishing" used off the coast.
Protecting Salmon
In 2005, many salmon were caught by drift nets off the west coast of Ireland. In the same year, a large number of salmon caught by fishing rods in Ireland came from the Ballina area of the Moy. This was partly due to a special structure called a weir. This weir helps to keep salmon in a certain part of the river, called the ridge pool, during the summer. To help the salmon numbers recover, drift net fishing for salmon was banned in November 2006. This ban officially started on January 1, 2007.
