River Dun, Northern Ireland

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River Dun at Cushendun Bridge over Glendun River, Cushendun, Co. Antrim - geograph.org.uk - 1381586.jpg
River Dun at Cushendun

The River Dun, also known as the Glendun River (in Irish: Abhann Duinne, brown river) is a river in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It runs through Glendun, one of the nine Glens of Antrim. The river is named after its brown colour, which comes from the peat bogs at its source on the slopes of Slievenanee on the Antrim Plateau. The source of the river is a few hundred metres from that of the River Bush, which flows north-east to meet the sea at Bushmills. Cushendun (Bun Abhann Duinne, "foot of the River Dun" in Irish [1] although the English name derives from Cois Abhann Duinne, "beside the River Dun") is a small coastal resort town lying at the mouth of the River Dun and Glendun.

Irish language Goidelic (Gaelic) language spoken in Ireland and by Irish people

Irish is a Goidelic (Gaelic) language originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is spoken as a first language in substantial areas of counties Galway, Kerry, Cork and Donegal, smaller areas of Waterford, Mayo and Meath, and a few other locations, and as a second language by a larger group of non-habitual speakers across the country.

County Antrim Place in Antrim, Northern Ireland

County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 3,046 square kilometres (1,176 sq mi) and has a population of about 618,000. County Antrim has a population density of 203 people per square kilometre or 526 people per square mile. It is also one of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland, as well as part of the historic province of Ulster.

Northern Ireland Part of the United Kingdom lying in the north-east of the island of Ireland, created 1921

Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares a border to the south and west with the Republic of Ireland. In 2011, its population was 1,810,863, constituting about 30% of the island's total population and about 3% of the UK's population. Established by the Northern Ireland Act 1998 as part of the Good Friday Agreement, the Northern Ireland Assembly holds responsibility for a range of devolved policy matters, while other areas are reserved for the British government. Northern Ireland co-operates with the Republic of Ireland in some areas, and the Agreement granted the Republic the ability to "put forward views and proposals" with "determined efforts to resolve disagreements between the two governments".

Contents

Glendun Viaduct

The river is spanned by a three arched viaduct completed by Charles Lanyon in 1839. [2] Glendun Viaduct, known locally as the Big Bridge, spans the river in the centre of the glen. It was built between 1834 and 1839, though no work was done during the winter months. The stones were quarried in Layde, taken by boat to Cushendun and then transported by cart to the bridge site. [3]

Charles Lanyon British politician

Sir Charles Lanyon DL, JP was an English architect of the 19th century. His work is most closely associated with Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Angling

The river supports a population of brown trout which rarely attain weights exceeding one pound due to the naturally acidic chemistry of the water. Sea trout and salmon enter the river and make their way to the upstream spawning beds from July onwards. Eels are also present.

Brown trout species of brown trout

The brown trout is a European species of salmonid fish that has been widely introduced into suitable environments globally. It includes both purely freshwater populations, referred to as the riverine ecotype, Salmo trutta morpha fario, and a lacustrine ecotype, S. trutta morpha lacustris, also called the lake trout, as well as anadromous forms known as the sea trout, S. trutta morpha trutta. The latter migrates to the oceans for much of its life and returns to fresh water only to spawn. Sea trout in the Ireland and Britain have many regional names: sewin in Wales, finnock in Scotland, peal in the West Country, mort in North West England, and white trout in Ireland.

Acid type of chemical substance that reacts with a base

An acid is a molecule or ion capable of donating a hydron (proton or hydrogen ion H+), or, alternatively, capable of forming a covalent bond with an electron pair (a Lewis acid).

Sea trout subspecies of brown trout

Sea trout is the common name usually applied to anadromous forms of brown trout, and is often referred to as Salmo trutta morpha trutta. Other names for anadromous brown trout are sewin (Wales), peel or peal, mort, finnock (Scotland), white trout (Ireland) and salmon trout (culinary). The term sea trout is also used to describe other anadromous salmonids—coho salmon, brook trout, Arctic char, cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden. Even some non-salmonid species are also commonly known as sea trout—Northern pikeminnow and members of the weakfish family (Cynoscion).

See also

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Glens of Antrim valley

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A2 road (Northern Ireland) road in Northern Ireland

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Cushendall village in Northern Ireland

Cushendall, formerly known as Newtown Glens, is a village and townland in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located in the historic barony of Glenarm Lower and the civil parish of Layd, and is part of Causeway Coast and Glens district.

Cushendun village in United Kingdom

Cushendun is a small coastal village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It sits off the A2 coast road between Cushendall and Ballycastle. It has a sheltered harbour and lies at the mouth of the River Dun and Glendun, one of the nine Glens of Antrim. The Mull of Kintyre in Scotland is only about 15 miles away across the North Channel and can be seen easily on clear days. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 138 people. It is part of Causeway Coast and Glens district.

Barmeen is a townland in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located at the foot of Glendun, one of the nine Glens of Antrim, west of Cushendun and north of Knocknacarry. It is situated in the historic barony of Cary and the civil parish of Culfeightrin and covers 59 acres.

Knocknacarry is a hamlet and townland about 1 kilometre west of Cushendun in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is situated in the historic barony of Glenarm Lower and the civil parish of Layd. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 138 people. It is within the Moyle District Council area.

Ballyvoy is a small village and townland in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is on the main A2 coast road 5 km east of Ballycastle and 17 km north west of Cushendall. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 72 people. It lies within the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is part of Causeway Coast and Glens District Council.

Glendun

Glendun translates into English as glen of the brown river and is one of the nine Glens of Antrim in County Antrim in Northern Ireland.

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. Dollaghan are much sought after by anglers in County Antrim County Tyrone and Derry due to their greater size in comparison to the non-migratory trout found in streams such as the Ballinderry River Six Mile Water, Moyola River and River Main. They are often caught in the dark using methods very similar to that of fishing for sea trout. Many anglers regard them as an elusive species and call them 'sea trout of lough neagh'. Their weight varies greatly - from small fish of around 1/2 lb to large specimens of around 20 lb. There are four strains of brown trout in Ireland: Dollaghan, Gillaroo, Sonaghan and Ferox. The Dollaghan is thought to have evolved from sea trout which were land locked many years ago.

Tievebulliagh mountain in the United Kingdom

Tievebulliagh is a 554-metre high mountain in the Glens of Antrim, Northern Ireland. It forms part of the watershed between Glenaan to the north and Glenballyemon to the south. It is situated about 4.4 km from Cushendall.

Shimna River river in the United Kingdom

The Shimna River is a river in County Down, Northern Ireland. It rises on the slopes of Ott Mountain, in the Mourne Mountains, and enters the Irish Sea at Newcastle, on Dundrum Bay. It is acidic and nutrient-poor, as a result of which its most common flora are mosses and liverworts, including the rare Portuguese feather-moss and Holt's mouse-tail moss. Its principal fish are salmon and sea trout, and it is managed by the Shimna Angling Club. The river is an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI).

Castletown River river in the United Kingdom

The Castletown River is a river which flows through the town of Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland. It rises near Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, and is known as the Creggan River in its upper reaches. Its two main tributaries are the Kilcurry and Falmore rivers and it enters the Irish Sea at Dundalk Bay on the east coast of Ireland. The Castletown River flows in at the northwest corner of Dundalk Bay creating a deep channel through the intertidal zone. It is routinely dredged for navigation purposes for the deep water port of Dundalk.

River Bush river in the United Kingdom

The River Bush is a river in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The River Bush is 33.5 miles (53.9 km) long. The river's source is in the Antrim Hills at 480m. From there the river flows northwest, with a bend at the town of Armoy. It then flows west, passing through Stranocum, and then bends north, passing through Bushmills before reaching the sea at Portballintrae on the North Antrim coast. It flows through a fertile valley devoted to grassland-based agriculture with limited arable cropping. The underlying geology is basalt and the water is slightly alkaline with magnesium making an unusually large contribution to total hardness. The river supports indigenous stocks of Atlantic salmon and brown trout. Saint Columb's Rill, which is a tributary of the river, is the source of water used for distilling Bushmills whiskey.

Newtown Crommelin village in United Kingdom

Newtowncrommelin is a small village and civil parish in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It lies 8 miles north-northeast of Ballymena and is part of the Borough of Ballymena. The village of Newtowncrommelin was founded in the townland of Skerry.

A42 road (Northern Ireland) road in Northern Ireland

The A42 is an east-west route in Northern Ireland. It starts in Maghera in County Londonderry, from where it goes in the direction of Carnlough on the shores of the North Channel of the Irish Sea, at the foot of the Glens of Antrim. The road goes through Gulladuff and Clady, as well as Portglenone, Ahoghill, Ballymena Broughshane and The Sheddings.

Causeway Coast and Glens Local government district in Northern Ireland

Causeway Coast and Glens is a local government district covering most of the northern part of Northern Ireland. It was created on 1 April 2015 by merging the Borough of Ballymoney, the Borough of Coleraine, the Borough of Limavady and the District of Moyle. The local authority is Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.

Glenshesk

Glenshesk is one of the nine Glens of Antrim in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It was shaped during the Ice Age by glaciers. The glen lies on the eastern side of Knocklayde mountain and flows out to the sea at Ballycastle.

River Main (County Antrim)

The River Main or Maine is a river in Northern Ireland, flowing through County Antrim.

References

Commons-logo.svg Media related to River Dun, County Antrim at Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates: 55°07′30″N6°02′45″W / 55.12487°N 6.04574°W / 55.12487; -6.04574

Geographic coordinate system Coordinate system

A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system that enables every location on Earth to be specified by a set of numbers, letters or symbols. The coordinates are often chosen such that one of the numbers represents a vertical position and two or three of the numbers represent a horizontal position; alternatively, a geographic position may be expressed in a combined three-dimensional Cartesian vector. A common choice of coordinates is latitude, longitude and elevation. To specify a location on a plane requires a map projection.