River Awbeg
Encyclopedia
Awbeg River is a river
in the southern part of Ireland
. It is a tributary of the Blackwater River
and flows into that larger river at a point in County Cork
. Its name comes from the Irish
Abha Bheag ("small river", a slightly older form than the modern Irish name).
as the Gralgne River and enters Co. Cork a half mile north-east of Ardskeagh Cross Roads, then flows west under a railroad bridge and south under Farran bridge on the Buttevant/Charlevllle road.
The second branch rises about two miles north of Liscarroll
and flows south and then north and west under Annagh Bridge to join the first branch at Scart Bridge.
From there, the river flows south through Buttevant
and east through Doneraile
, turns south near Shanballymore
and through Castletownroche
to enter the Blackwater at Poulcormac near Bridgetown Abbey
.
with wooded sides. For the most part the river flows over Carboniferous limestone
. The river supports a range of plant
species including Dropwort
, Pondweed
, Club-rush, Water-cress and Ranunculus. The river is largely fringed by a narrow strip of marsh vegetation, dominated by Reed-canary Grass. The Awbeg is a breeding ground for otter
s and supports a significant population of Atlantic salmon. The site supports a population of White-clawed Crayfish
, a threatened species.
bridge over the Awbeg River in Buttevant, was widened at some time in the past. The masonry is unusual similar to that found at a nearby Franciscan
abbey
.
The ancient clapper bridge
near Ballybeg Abbey was erected in the 13th century by the Augustinian Friar
s of Ballybeg
for convenience in crossing the Awbeg to their mill and lands beyond. It is constructed of huge slabs of limestone
that are about 3m long, equally wide, and each weighting a ton. The transverse slabs measure 2.7m to 3.0m in length and are wide and thick in proportion and each weighs a tonne.
is situated on the left bank of the Awbeg river, about a half-mile east of Buttevant and southeast of the Ballyhoura Mountains
.
referred to the Awbeg as "the gentle Mullagh" (or Mulla) and resided at Kilcolman Castle in its vicinity.
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 the southern part of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is a tributary of the Blackwater River
Munster Blackwater
The Blackwater or Munster Blackwater is a river which flows through counties Kerry, Cork, and Waterford in Ireland. It rises in the Mullaghareirk Mountains in County Kerry and then flows in an easterly direction through County Cork, through Mallow and Fermoy...
and flows into that larger river at a point in County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. Its name comes from the Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
Abha Bheag ("small river", a slightly older form than the modern Irish name).
The course
There are two branches of the Awbeg. The first rises in County LimerickCounty Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
as the Gralgne River and enters Co. Cork a half mile north-east of Ardskeagh Cross Roads, then flows west under a railroad bridge and south under Farran bridge on the Buttevant/Charlevllle road.
The second branch rises about two miles north of Liscarroll
Liscarroll
Liscarroll is a village in County Cork, Ireland The village is located on the R522 regional road near Mallow and Buttevant about two miles south of River Awbeg.-Liscarroll Castle:...
and flows south and then north and west under Annagh Bridge to join the first branch at Scart Bridge.
From there, the river flows south through Buttevant
Buttevant
Buttevant is a medieval market town, incorporated by charter of Edward III, situated in North County Cork, Ireland.While there may be reason to suggest that the town may occupy the site of an earlier settlement of the Donegans, Carrig Donegan, the origins of the present town are clearly and...
and east through Doneraile
Doneraile
Doneraile is a town in County Cork, Province of Munster, Ireland. It is located on the R581 regional road 8 km east of the N20 road which runs from Limerick to Cork. It is about 12 km north of Mallow town...
, turns south near Shanballymore
Shanballymore
Shanballymore is a small village and civil district in north County Cork, Ireland. It neighbours the towns of Doneraile, Kildorrery and Castletownroche, and is off the main route from Mallow to Mitchelstown....
and through Castletownroche
Castletownroche
Castletownroche is a village on the N72 National secondary road in County Cork, Province of Munster, Ireland. In ancient times, it was known in Irish as Dún Chruadha, meaning Cruadha's Fort...
to enter the Blackwater at Poulcormac near Bridgetown Abbey
Bridgetown Abbey
Bridgetown Abbey, was a 13th century Augustinian monastery of the priors of St. Victor. Its ruins may be viewed in Castletownroche, County Cork, Ireland near where the River Awbeg meets the Blackwater.-See also:...
.
Ecology
North of Buttevant the river flows through flat agricultural land, while south of Buttevant the river generally flows through a narrow, steep-sided valleyValley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
with wooded sides. For the most part the river flows over Carboniferous limestone
Carboniferous limestone
Carboniferous Limestone is a term used to describe a variety of different types of limestone occurring widely across Great Britain and Ireland which were deposited during the Dinantian epoch of the Carboniferous period. They were formed between 363 and 325 million years ago...
. The river supports a range of plant
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
species including Dropwort
Oenanthe
-The name of two genera:* Oenanthe, the Wheatear genus of birds* Oenanthe, the Water dropwort genus of plants-Persons:* Oenanthe of Egypt , an Egyptian Greek noblewoman and the wife of Agathocles...
, Pondweed
Potamogeton
Potamogeton is a genus of aquatic, mostly freshwater, plants of the family Potamogetonaceae. Most are known by the common name pondweed, although many unrelated plants may be called pondweed, such as Canadian pondweed...
, Club-rush, Water-cress and Ranunculus. The river is largely fringed by a narrow strip of marsh vegetation, dominated by Reed-canary Grass. The Awbeg is a breeding ground for otter
Otter
The Otters are twelve species of semi-aquatic mammals which feed on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals....
s and supports a significant population of Atlantic salmon. The site supports a population of White-clawed Crayfish
Austropotamobius pallipes
Austropotamobius pallipes is an endangered European freshwater crayfish, and the only species of crayfish native to the British Isles. Its common names include white-clawed crayfish and Atlantic stream crayfish.-Distribution and ecology:...
, a threatened species.
Old bridges
Blake's Bridge, an old stoneMasonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
bridge over the Awbeg River in Buttevant, was widened at some time in the past. The masonry is unusual similar to that found at a nearby Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
.
The ancient clapper bridge
Clapper bridge
A clapper bridge is an ancient form of bridge found on the moors of Devon and in other upland areas of the United Kingdom including Snowdonia and Anglesey...
near Ballybeg Abbey was erected in the 13th century by the Augustinian Friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
s of Ballybeg
Ballybeg
Ballybeg is a generic name given to small Irish towns. The name comes from the Gaelic words Baile Beag which literally means Little Town...
for convenience in crossing the Awbeg to their mill and lands beyond. It is constructed of huge slabs of limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
that are about 3m long, equally wide, and each weighting a ton. The transverse slabs measure 2.7m to 3.0m in length and are wide and thick in proportion and each weighs a tonne.
Knockanare Well
Knockanare WellKnockanare Well
Knockanare Well is a holy well in County Cork, Ireland.It is situated on the left bank of the River Awbeg, about a half-mile east of Buttevant and southeast of the Ballyhoura Mountains. A Sheela na Gig once stood next to the well, indicative of its importance as a mystical site for many centuries...
is situated on the left bank of the Awbeg river, about a half-mile east of Buttevant and southeast of the Ballyhoura Mountains
Ballyhoura Mountains
The Ballyhoura Mountains are located in south-east County Limerick and north-east County Cork in central Munster, running east and west for about 6 miles on the borders of both counties.-Features:...
.
Gentle Mullagh
Edmund SpenserEdmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser was an English poet best known for The Faerie Queene, an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. He is recognised as one of the premier craftsmen of Modern English verse in its infancy, and one of the greatest poets in the English...
referred to the Awbeg as "the gentle Mullagh" (or Mulla) and resided at Kilcolman Castle in its vicinity.