THE RIVER NOREKILKENNY CITY
The River Nore: A Lifeline of the South-East
The River Nore is one of the three principal rivers in Ireland's South-East Region, alongside the River Suir and the River Barrow. Collectively, these are known as the Three Sisters. The Nore stretches for approximately 140 kilometres (87 miles), draining a vast area of around 2,530 square kilometres (977 square miles) across parts of three counties: Tipperary, Laois, and Kilkenny, encompassing both Leinster and Munster.
Originating in the Devil's Bit Mountain, County Tipperary, the river generally flows southeast, then south. It eventually converges with the River Barrow at Ringwood, near the Barrow railway bridge at Drumdowney, County Kilkenny. From there, their combined waters empty into the Celtic Sea at Waterford Harbour.
The River Nore boasts a long-term average flow rate of 42.9 cubic metres per second (m³/s). It is also home to the only known surviving population of the critically endangered Nore freshwater pearl mussel, leading to much of its length being designated as a Special Area of Conservation.
Recreation and Challenges on the Nore
The River Nore is a popular spot for anglers, with the Kilkenny Fishing Club holding extensive fishing rights on the main river and its tributary, the River Dinan. The river is well-stocked with brown trout and salmon.
While the river is largely flat, it is punctuated by weirs in many of the villages it passes through. Some of these weirs are particularly favoured by kayakers for playboating.
However, the river's ecosystem has faced challenges. Salmon runs on the River Nore were significantly disrupted in 2005 and 2006 due to a flood relief scheme in Kilkenny city, undertaken by the Office of Public Works. Initially budgeted at €13.1 million, the project ultimately incurred costs exceeding €48 million.
The River Nore is one of the three principal rivers in Ireland's South-East Region, alongside the River Suir and the River Barrow. Collectively, these are known as the Three Sisters. The Nore stretches for approximately 140 kilometres (87 miles), draining a vast area of around 2,530 square kilometres (977 square miles) across parts of three counties: Tipperary, Laois, and Kilkenny, encompassing both Leinster and Munster.
Originating in the Devil's Bit Mountain, County Tipperary, the river generally flows southeast, then south. It eventually converges with the River Barrow at Ringwood, near the Barrow railway bridge at Drumdowney, County Kilkenny. From there, their combined waters empty into the Celtic Sea at Waterford Harbour.
The River Nore boasts a long-term average flow rate of 42.9 cubic metres per second (m³/s). It is also home to the only known surviving population of the critically endangered Nore freshwater pearl mussel, leading to much of its length being designated as a Special Area of Conservation.
Recreation and Challenges on the Nore
The River Nore is a popular spot for anglers, with the Kilkenny Fishing Club holding extensive fishing rights on the main river and its tributary, the River Dinan. The river is well-stocked with brown trout and salmon.
While the river is largely flat, it is punctuated by weirs in many of the villages it passes through. Some of these weirs are particularly favoured by kayakers for playboating.
However, the river's ecosystem has faced challenges. Salmon runs on the River Nore were significantly disrupted in 2005 and 2006 due to a flood relief scheme in Kilkenny city, undertaken by the Office of Public Works. Initially budgeted at €13.1 million, the project ultimately incurred costs exceeding €48 million.
LADY DESART BRIDGE
ACROSS THE RIVER NORE
Lady Desart (born Ellen Odette Bischoffsheim in London in 1857) was a prominent figure in Irish society, known for her extensive philanthropic work and her commitment to the cultural and economic welfare of Kilkenny. She married William Ulick O'Connor Cuffe, the 4th Earl of Desart, in 1881 and settled in Kilkenny.
STANDUP PADDLEBOARD
SEPTEMBER 2022
Modern stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) emerged in the 1940s in Waikiki, Hawaii. Its origins are often attributed to John Ah Choy, a local Hawaiian surfer. As he aged and found it increasingly difficult to lie down and get back up on his board, he adapted his technique. He would stand on his board from the breaking waves, using a canoe paddle to propel himself out to catch new ones.