Slate River (Ireland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Slate River |
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| Native name | An Tarae |
| Country | Ireland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Ballynafagh Lake, County Kildare 86 m (282 ft) |
| River mouth | River Figile Bracknagh, County Offaly |
The Slate River is a river in Ireland. It flows through County Kildare and County Offaly. This river is a smaller stream that flows into a larger one, called the Figile River.
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What's in a Name? The Slate River's Story
The Slate River gets its name from the slate quarries nearby. A quarry is a place where people dig out rocks like slate from the ground. Slate is a type of rock often used for roofs or blackboards.
The river's Irish name is An Tarae. This name comes from an old word, tarae, which means "mill race." A mill race is a channel that carries water to power a watermill, like the Sally Corn Mill in Rathangan.
Long ago, this river was also known by another name: the Clashaghbane River.
Where Does the Slate River Flow?
The Slate River begins near Ballynafagh Lake in Prosperous. This is where the river "rises" or starts its journey. From there, it flows towards the southwest.
It goes under the R403 road at a place called Graigues. The river then continues flowing west, staying beside the Grand Canal. "Parallel" means they run side-by-side without ever meeting.
The Slate River actually passes under the Grand Canal! It does this using a special bridge called the Derrymullen aqueduct. An aqueduct is like a bridge that carries water or a river over another obstacle. The river is also crossed by the R415 at Littletown.
The Slate River then flows through Ballyteague Forest. It also passes by the Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park, which is located on the Bog of Allen.
Next, the river reaches Rathangan, County Kildare. Here, it flows under Rathangan Bridge, which is part of the R401. There are also two other bridges nearby: a footbridge for people to walk across, and another bridge for the R414 at Rathangan Demesne.
The Slate River keeps flowing west and enters County Offaly. Finally, it joins the Figile River just south of Bracknagh.
Wildlife in the Slate River
The Slate River is home to several types of fish. You can often find Northern pike, European perch, and brown trout swimming in its waters. These fish are common in rivers and lakes across Ireland.
Images for kids
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The source of the Slate River
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The mouth of the Slate River
