Delvin River

The River Delvin (Irish: An Ailbhine) is a river of northern County Dublin, about 18 kilometres (11 mi) long and forming much of the Dublin-Meath boundary;[3]:2 it is thus largely under the responsibility of Fingal County Council, sometimes shared with Meath County Council.

River Delvin
An Ailbhine
At Gibblockstown, Co. Meath
EtymologyOld Irish ailbine, supposedly from ollbine, "great crime"[1][2]
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationnear Garristown, County Dublin (Fingal)
 • elevation120 m (390 ft)
Mouth 
 • location
Knocknagin, to the Irish Sea, (County Dublin)
Length18 kilometres (11 mi)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftBartramstown River, Saddlestown Stream, Silver Stream
 • rightGarristown Stream

Name

Delvin or An Ailbhine[3]:2 is derived from Old Irish ailbine, possibly from ollbine, that is "great crime."[1][4] The river is also sometimes known as the Elvene, Elvin Water, Elvin or Delvyn.[3]:2

Course
Railway bridge across the River Delvin near its mouth

The Delvin rises north west of the village of Garristown, and receives the Bartramstown River, which rises in County Meath and passes near the Fourknocks monument. The Delvin passes Garristown, from which the Garristown Stream joins, and flows northeast, forming much of the Dublin-Meath county boundary. It passes along the northern edge of the village of Naul, where there are cliffs of around 20 metres, a 5 metre natural fall, and a small private hydro-electric plant on an artificial cascade. The river near Naul is sometimes known as the Roche.[3]:2

Downstream of Naul, small tributaries flow in. The river runs east, then north, passing Stamullen, then east again, crossing into the broad Gormanston area.[3]:2 It passes under the M1 motorway, where is marks the county boundary, and later receives a final tributary and flows under a viaduct to enter the Irish Sea at Knocknagin,[3]:2 at the southern end of Gormanston beach, south of Ben Head and some distance north of the village of Bremore, and the town of Balbriggan.[5]

The Delvin has more than a dozen tributaries, including the Bartramstown River, Stablestown Stream, and Silver Stream.[3]:2 It once powered at least one mill, and today there is at least one small hydroelectric plant on its course. The main river body runs for about 18km, while tributary lines total at least 10km more.[3]:2

Fishing

Trout fishing on these rivers takes place from February to September. Trout fishing is usually catch and release; spinner reel fishing on one shore is allowed. Most trout are in the 2 pound range.[5]

See also

Rivers of Ireland

References
  1. "The Tale of the Wooing of Eimear". CELT.ie. UCC. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  2. Hancock, W. Neilson, Thaddeus O'Mahony, Alexander George Richey, and Robert Atkinson (ed. and tr.), Ancient laws of Ireland, 6 vols, vol. 1: Senchus Mor, Stationery Office: Dublin, 1865. https://archive.org/details/ancientlaws01hancuoft/page/68/mode/2up?q=ailbine
  3. Doyle, Joseph W. (2013) [2008]. Ten Dozen Waters: The Rivers and Streams of County Dublin (7th edition). Dublin, Ireland: Rath Eanna Research. pp. i–iv, 1–76 + photos and map. ISBN 978-0-9566363-6-2.
  4. Hancock, W. Neilson, Thaddeus O'Mahony, Alexander George Richey, and Robert Atkinson (ed. and tr.), Ancient laws of Ireland, 6 vols, vol. 1: Senchus Mor, Stationery Office: Dublin, 1865. https://archive.org/details/ancientlaws01hancuoft/page/68/mode/2up?q=ailbine
  5. "River Nanny and Delvin River". Fishing in Ireland. Retrieved 11 March 2020.

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