River Moy
Encyclopedia
The River Moy rises at the foot of Knocknashee
in the Northwest of Ireland
.
in the Ox Mountains
in County Sligo. It flows for 110 km. For the greater part of its length, the Moy flows southwestward, entering County Mayo
and passing not far from Swinford
before turning north near the village of Kilmore and heading for the historic town of Ballina
, where it enters the Atlantic Ocean
at Killala Bay
.
The Moy valley, with its ancient churches and abbey
s, is a prominent tourist destination
.
was once among the best salmon
fisheries in Europe
; however, in recent times, drift net
fishing off the coast caused a huge decline in salmon numbers. According to central fisheries board statistics, 101,231 returning salmon were taken by drift nets off the west coast of Ireland in 2005. In the same year, 29% (6,675) of all rod caught salmon in Ireland were taken in the Ballina district, as a result of a weir
, which keeps salmon trapped in the ridge pool, near the mouth of the river, during the summer. Drift netting for salmon was banned in November 2006 and the ban came into force on January 1, 2007.
The Moy Estuary is a five mile estuary beginning at Ballina
and running into Killala Bay
(Cuan Chill Ala in Irish
).
The River Moy so gently flows from there unto the sea. Farewell to you, farewell to all from the hill of Knocknashee
Knocknashee
Knocknashee is a 276 m Marilyn in the Ox Mountains, County Sligo, Ireland.- Geology :Knocknashee hill consists of a limestone top with shales underlying the lower slopes. - Archaeology :...
in the Northwest of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
Geography
The River Moy rises at the foot of KnocknasheeKnocknashee
Knocknashee is a 276 m Marilyn in the Ox Mountains, County Sligo, Ireland.- Geology :Knocknashee hill consists of a limestone top with shales underlying the lower slopes. - Archaeology :...
in the Ox Mountains
Ox Mountains
The Ox Mountains are a mountain range in County Sligo on the west coast of Ireland. They are also known as 'St Patrick's Mountain after St. Patrick, as he laboured much on it, raised churches on its slopes, and left his name to some of its wells, as for instance that of Dromard' . The highest peak...
in County Sligo. It flows for 110 km. For the greater part of its length, the Moy flows southwestward, entering County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
and passing not far from Swinford
Swinford
Swinford, historically called Swineford , is a town in County Mayo, Ireland. It is surrounded by the settlements of Midfield, Meelick, Culmore, Cloonaghboy, Killasser and other villages. It is on the N5 road, located 18 km from Ireland West Airport Knock...
before turning north near the village of Kilmore and heading for the historic town of Ballina
Ballina, County Mayo
Ballina is a large town in north County Mayo in Ireland. It lies at the mouth of the River Moy near Killala Bay, in the Moy valley and Parish of Kilmoremoy, with the Ox Mountain range to the east and the Nephin Beg mountains to the west...
, where it enters the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
at Killala Bay
Killala Bay
Killala Bay is a bay on the west coast of Ireland between County Mayo and County Sligo. It is situated between Lenadoon Point and Downpatrick Head and is the estuary for the River Moy....
.
The Moy valley, with its ancient churches and 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,...
s, is a prominent tourist destination
Tourist destination
A tourist destination is a city, town, or other area that is dependent to a significant extent on the revenues accruing from tourism. It may contain one or more tourist attractions and possibly some "tourist traps."...
.
Economics
The riverRiver
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...
was once among the best salmon
Salmon
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...
fisheries in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
; however, in recent times, drift net
Drift net
Drift netting is a fishing technique where nets, called drift nets, are allowed to float freely at the surface of a sea or lake. Usually a drift net is a gill net with floats attached to a rope along the top of the net, and weights attached to another rope along the foot of the net to keep the net...
fishing off the coast caused a huge decline in salmon numbers. According to central fisheries board statistics, 101,231 returning salmon were taken by drift nets off the west coast of Ireland in 2005. In the same year, 29% (6,675) of all rod caught salmon in Ireland were taken in the Ballina district, as a result of a weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
, which keeps salmon trapped in the ridge pool, near the mouth of the river, during the summer. Drift netting for salmon was banned in November 2006 and the ban came into force on January 1, 2007.
The Moy Estuary is a five mile estuary beginning at Ballina
Ballina, County Mayo
Ballina is a large town in north County Mayo in Ireland. It lies at the mouth of the River Moy near Killala Bay, in the Moy valley and Parish of Kilmoremoy, with the Ox Mountain range to the east and the Nephin Beg mountains to the west...
and running into Killala Bay
Killala Bay
Killala Bay is a bay on the west coast of Ireland between County Mayo and County Sligo. It is situated between Lenadoon Point and Downpatrick Head and is the estuary for the River Moy....
(Cuan Chill Ala in 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...
).
Popular culture references
The River Moy is referenced in the traditional Irish song "The Hills Of Knocknashee".The River Moy so gently flows from there unto the sea. Farewell to you, farewell to all from the hill of Knocknashee
External links
- Salmon fishing on the River Moy, from Salmon Ireland
- The Moy Fishery
- Report of the Independent Salmon Group
- Daily updates for the Moy http://www.themoy.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=45