Tully Stream facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tully Stream |
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|---|---|
| Native name | An Tulach |
| Country | Ireland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Tully West, County Kildare 84 m (276 ft) |
| River mouth | Celtic Sea at Waterford Harbour via Finnery River and River Barrow 53°04′18″N 6°59′55″W / 53.07176°N 6.99864°W |
| Length | 13 km (8.1 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 49.3 km2 (19.0 sq mi) |
Tully Stream (Irish: An Tulach) is a small river in County Kildare, Ireland. It is about 13 kilometers (8 miles) long. The stream starts in the west of County Kildare and flows into the Finnery River.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The Tully Stream gets its name from the area where it begins, called Tully. The word "Tully" comes from an old Irish word, tulaigh. This word means "hillock," which is a small hill.
Where Does Tully Stream Flow?
The Tully Stream starts south of the Irish National Stud near Kildare Town. It flows south, running next to the R415 road. Along its path, it goes through a place called Brallistown. This area is special because it's linked to Saint Brigit.
The stream then flows under two bridges: Soomeragh Bridge and Walterstown Bridge. After this, it turns west and goes through Nurney, County Kildare. It passes under the R415 road again at Nurney Bridge.
Further on, the Tully Stream flows through Harristown. Here, there is a special station that monitors the water. The stream then turns southwest and joins another small stream at Lenagorra. Finally, it flows through Cherrymills and empties into the Finnery River at Boherbaun Lower.
History and Legends
The Tully Stream has a very old connection to Brigit of Kildare, a famous Irish saint. There is a well near the stream in Brallistown that is dedicated to her. This area is also known as "The Greallachs." The word greallach means "puddle" or "mire" in Irish.
People say that Saint Brigit used to keep her cow here. She would also pray and make butter by the Tully Stream. There are two stones in the stream called "St. Brigid's Shoes." The stream flows right through them.
Amazing Wildlife in the Stream
Many different types of fish live in the Tully Stream. You can find Brown trout (Salmo trutta) swimming in its waters. There are also two kinds of stickleback fish: the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) and the nine-spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius). Another fish found here is the common dace (Leuciscus leuciscus).
Protecting the Stream from Pollution
Sometimes, the Tully Stream has high levels of chemicals called phosphates. These high levels can cause a problem called eutrophication. This means there's too much plant growth, like algae, which can harm other living things in the water.
In the early 2000s, parts of the stream were considered "seriously polluted." This was due to waste water being released into it. Even in 2006, 2007, and 2008, reports showed parts of the stream were still seriously polluted. It's important to keep our rivers clean for all the plants and animals that live there!
