River Swilly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River SwillyAn tSúileach |
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River Swilly entering at Letterkenny
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| Country | Ireland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Glendore Mountain, County Donegal ~15.2 m (50 ft) |
| River mouth | Atlantic ocean at Lough Swilly |
| Length | ~41.8 km (26.0 miles) |
The River Swilly (called An tSúileach in Irish) is an important river in County Donegal, Ireland. It flows eastwards right through the town of Letterkenny. Letterkenny is the biggest town in County Donegal, and it grew up around the river. It became the first place where people could cross the river back in the 1600s.
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The River's Story
The name Súileach comes from an old legend. People used to say there was a huge water monster in the river! The story goes that Saint Columba, who was born nearby in Gartan, bravely cut the monster in half. This exciting legend even inspired a song called "A Monster in the River Swilly" by a local DJ and producer, Diarmuid O'Doherty.
Where the River Flows
The River Swilly starts high up near Glendore, a mountain in County Donegal. From there, it travels about 41.8 km (26.0 mi) (that's around 26 miles!). It flows right through Letterkenny before finally reaching the Atlantic Ocean at a place called Lough Swilly.
How People Use the River
The River Swilly is about 26 miles (42 km) long. Long ago, there was a busy shipping industry on the Swilly in Letterkenny. However, it was quite tricky for large ships to use the river because it was narrow and had many bends, especially near the town. Because of these challenges, the port stopped being used for commercial shipping in the 1960s. The old warehouses were taken down in 2001, but you can still see the old coal yard today. The river's water also helps power the Newmills Corn and Flax Mills, which is a historic mill.
Fishing in the Swilly
The River Swilly is known as one of the best fishing rivers in the northwest of Ireland. Traditionally, about 300 to 400 salmon were caught here each year. The biggest salmon ever recorded weighed an amazing 24 pounds! A very large sea trout, weighing 12 pounds, was also caught in the river.
Bridges Over the Swilly
Many bridges cross the River Swilly, mostly for cars and trucks. In Letterkenny, there are four main bridges that go over the river:
| Bridge | Image |
|---|---|
| Oldtown Bridge |  |
| Port Bridge |  |
| Rail Bridge |  |
| Devlin Way |  |
Devlin Way Pedestrian Bridge
Devlin Way is special because it was the first bridge built just for people to walk across the River Swilly. It was put in place on October 25, 2006, in Letterkenny. This bridge connects the area called Oldtown with the town centre.
The bridge was designed by TS McLaughlin Structural Engineers, and Bonnar Engineering built the metal parts. It cost €100,000 to build. The bridge is a maroon-coloured steel structure, 28 metres long and 2.2 metres wide. It has made walking much safer for people, especially older adults and students going to school. The bridge is lit up by old-fashioned iron lamps and even has a special stone seat with a plaque to remember its opening. It's located very close to the much older Oldtown Bridge.
Local councillor Ciaran Brogan officially opened Devlin Way on November 14, 2006. The bridge is named after the Devlin family, who live nearby and kindly gave up some of their land so the bridge could be built.
