River Dun, County Antrim
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The River Dun, also known as the Glendun River is a river in County Antrim. It runs to the sea 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 yards from that of the River Bush, which flows northeast to meet the sea at Bushmills.
The village of Cushendun at the foot of the glen derives its name from the Gaelic Cois Abhann Duinne, meaning "Beside the River Dun".[1] – although the English name derives from Cois Abhann Duinne, "beside the River Dun") The mouth of the Dun here on the sands allows Cushendun to be a small seaside resort town.
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]
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 found in the river.
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References
- ↑ Placenames in Ireland
- ↑ Glens of Antrim Historical Society
- ↑ "Glendun Viaduct". Ballycastle. http://www.ballycastle.info/places/Glendun/dunviaduct.htm. Retrieved 28 February 2009.
- Map: 55°7’30"N, 6°2’45"W