Kells Water
Encyclopedia
The Kells Water is a small river
in County Antrim
, Northern Ireland
. It flows through Moorfields and Kells
and is a tributary
to the River Main. The river rises above Glenwherry. It is a continuation of the Glenwhirry River and eventually joins the Main, which in turn flows into Lough Neagh
. The hamlet of Kellswater
is nearby. An old stone bridge crosses the Kells Water, separating Kells from the adjacent village of Connor.
, trout
and dollaghan
use to spawn
in November and December.
in the town land of Tullynamullan. The band takes its name not from the area but from the river Kells Water, immortalised in the song Bonnie Kellswater, the river and the bridge featuring on the band crest.
Bonnie Kellswater
Here's a health unto you bonnie Kellswater,
it's there you'll get the pleasures of life,
it's there you'll get fishing and fowling,
and a bonnie wee lassie for your wife.
The hills and the dales and low valleys,
are all covered with linen so fine,
and the trees are a drooping sweet honey,
and the rocks are all grown over with thyme.
Sometimes the Kellswater runs muddy,
but to me it will always run clear,
and when e'er I sit down for a study,
it reminds me o'them that's no here.
Lovely Molly, you're the first girl I courted,
it was you drew my heart in a snare,
your red rosy cheeks I admired,
and your lily-white skin and brown hair.
Some say that my Johnnie's no coming,
but I know he'll be here in the spring,
through the green shady groves we will wander,
and among the green bushes we'll sing.
Now it's this one and that one may court you,
but if anyone wins you but me,
both daily and hourly I'll curse them,
that stole lovely Molly from me.
So here's a health unto you bonnie Kellswater,
it's there you'll get the pleasures of life,
it's there you'll get fishing and fowling,
and a bonnie wee lass for your wife.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It flows through Moorfields and Kells
Kells, County Antrim
Kells is a village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, near Ballymena. The area encompasses Kells and the village of Connor which are very close together and have a joint primary school, library, development association etc. It had a population of 1,745 people in the 2001 Census...
and is a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
to the River Main. The river rises above Glenwherry. It is a continuation of the Glenwhirry River and eventually joins the Main, which in turn flows into Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh, sometimes Loch Neagh, is a large freshwater lake in Northern Ireland. Its name comes .-Geography:With an area of , it is the largest lake in the British Isles and ranks among the forty largest lakes of Europe. Located twenty miles to the west of Belfast, it is approximately twenty...
. The hamlet of Kellswater
Kellswater
Kellswater is a hamlet near to the village of Kells in Northern Ireland. The name of the hamlet comes from the nearby Kells Water.-Transport:...
is nearby. An old stone bridge crosses the Kells Water, separating Kells from the adjacent village of Connor.
Angling
The Kells Water is a nursery river, which salmonSalmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
, trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
and dollaghan
Dollaghan
Dollaghan are a variety of brown trout native to Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland, and many of its tributaries. They are a potamodromous migratory trout spending much of the year in the lough, returning to the rivers in autumn to spawn...
use to spawn
Spawn (biology)
Spawn refers to the eggs and sperm released or deposited, usually into water, by aquatic animals. As a verb, spawn refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, also called spawning...
in November and December.
History
The river was widely used to power linen and other mills in the past. The water is still used in some industrial processes, such as in a dye works near Connor.Culture
Kellswater Flute Band was founded in 1947, four miles south of BallymenaBallymena
Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....
in the town land of Tullynamullan. The band takes its name not from the area but from the river Kells Water, immortalised in the song Bonnie Kellswater, the river and the bridge featuring on the band crest.
Bonnie Kellswater
Here's a health unto you bonnie Kellswater,
it's there you'll get the pleasures of life,
it's there you'll get fishing and fowling,
and a bonnie wee lassie for your wife.
The hills and the dales and low valleys,
are all covered with linen so fine,
and the trees are a drooping sweet honey,
and the rocks are all grown over with thyme.
Sometimes the Kellswater runs muddy,
but to me it will always run clear,
and when e'er I sit down for a study,
it reminds me o'them that's no here.
Lovely Molly, you're the first girl I courted,
it was you drew my heart in a snare,
your red rosy cheeks I admired,
and your lily-white skin and brown hair.
Some say that my Johnnie's no coming,
but I know he'll be here in the spring,
through the green shady groves we will wander,
and among the green bushes we'll sing.
Now it's this one and that one may court you,
but if anyone wins you but me,
both daily and hourly I'll curse them,
that stole lovely Molly from me.
So here's a health unto you bonnie Kellswater,
it's there you'll get the pleasures of life,
it's there you'll get fishing and fowling,
and a bonnie wee lass for your wife.