Native name An Laidhrín Length 6 km | Basin size 87.5 km (33.8 sq mi) Discharge 0.071 m³/s Province Leinster | |
Main source Windgates, County Kildare78 m (256 ft) River mouth | ||
The Lyreen River (Irish: An Laidhrín) is a small river in County Kildare, Ireland.
Contents
Map of Lyreen River, Co. Kildare, Ireland
Name
The Irish name Laidhrín is diminutive of ladhar, meaning "fork". The Anglicised form is first recorded as Leyrin in The Civil Survey A.D. 1654–56, vol. viii county of Kildare.
Course
The Lyreen starts near Rathcoffey. It flows north through Barreen and it joins its main tributary, the Baltracey River. The Baltracey comes from Donadea lake with a small supply of fish. The river then flows through Laragh and through Millfarm and finally through Maynooth. It widens out into a low but wide and powerful river. The river formerly powered the mill there. It flows through the grounds of the St Patrick's College, Maynooth, behind the castle by Manor Mills. It then flows into the Rye River by the Maynooth Reservoir. The Lyreen is the main tributary of the Rye.
Wildlife
The Lyreen is a major carp fishery.
Environment
The Lyreen River is "heavily polluted".