Esker Riada: Difference between revisions
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'''Esker Riada''', ([[Irish language|Irish]]: Eiscir Riada), is a |
'''Esker Riada''', ([[Irish language|Irish]]: Eiscir Riada), is a system of ridges that stretch across the narrowest point of [[Ireland]], between [[Dublin]] and [[Galway]]. |
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==Geography== |
==Geography== |
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[[Image:Riada_Westmeath.JPG|thumb|right|Landscape typical of the Esker Riada, County Westmeath]] |
[[Image:Riada_Westmeath.JPG|thumb|right|Landscape typical of the Esker Riada, County Westmeath]] |
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The |
The Esker Riada is a collection of [[esker|eskers]], that passes through the counties of [[County Dublin|Dublin]], [[County Meath|Meath]], [[County Kildare|Kildare]], [[County Westmeath|Westmeath]], [[County Offaly|Offaly]], [[County Roscommon|Roscommon]] and [[County Galway|Galway]]. |
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The eskers take the form of relatively low-lying ridges composed of sand, gravel and boulders; deposited by water flowing beneath a glacier; that became exposed when the glacier melted at the end of the last ice age, around 10,000 years ago. |
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The Esker Riada has, since ancient times, formed a highway joining the east and west of Ireland. Indeed, its ancient [[Celtic]] name is ‘An Slí Mór’, meaning ‘The Great Highway’.<ref name=multiple1>http://homepage.eircom.net/~williamfinnerty/chaplefinnerty/esker/riada1.htm</ref><ref>http://islesproject.com/2007/11/12/geology-of-britain/</ref> The Great Highway provided a link between the monastic settlement of [[Clonmacnoise]], built where the [[River Shannon]] passes through the ridge, and [[Durrow Abbey]].<ref name=multiple1/><ref>http://www.ireland.com/focus/heritage/p4a.htm</ref> In modern-day Ireland, the main [[n6_road|N6]] Dublin – Galway road still closely follows the ridge. |
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The Irish name 'Eiscir Riada' provides an indication of the significance of the eskers, 'Eiscir' meaning 'divide' and 'Riada' meaning 'road'.<ref>http://www.offaly.ie/NR/rdonlyres/465BA817-6F7F-4079-A21A-77A9D8A7D5A0/1109/Chapter16LandscapeandAmenities_FEB_08.pdf</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Following a battle at [[Maynooth]], in the year 123 AD, the island of Ireland was divided into two political entities along the line of the eskers – ‘[[Leath Cuinn]]’ (‘Conn’s Half’) to the north, and ‘[[Leath Cuinn|Leath Mogha]]’ (‘Mogha’s Half’) to the south.<ref name=multiple1>http://homepage.eircom.net/~williamfinnerty/chaplefinnerty/esker/riada1.htm</ref> |
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Because the slightly higher ground of the Esker Riada provided a route through the [[bogs]] of the Irish midlands it has, since ancient times, formed a highway joining the east and west of Ireland. Indeed, its ancient [[Celtic]] name is ‘An Slí Mór’, meaning ‘The Great Highway’.<ref name=multiple1/><ref>http://islesproject.com/2007/11/12/geology-of-britain/</ref> |
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The Great Highway provided a link between [[Durrow Abbey]] and the monastic settlement of [[Clonmacnoise]], constructed at the point where the [[River Shannon]] passes through the Esker Riada.<ref name=multiple1/><ref>http://www.ireland.com/focus/heritage/p4a.htm</ref> |
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==Present Day== |
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To this day, the Esker Riada continues to serve as a highway, the main [[n6_road|N6]] Dublin to Galway road still closely following it; and much agricultural activity still takes place along its length. |
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| ⚫ | The eskers have become a valued source of building material, with sand and gravel extraction being commonplace. However, the negative environmental impact of such operations is now being realized and this, along with a developing awareness of the ridge’s natural beauty and its significance in Ireland’s history, has led to increasing restrictions. Indeed, Offaly County has moved to give the ridge protection in its County Development Plan, and has gone so far as to press to have the Esker Riada recognized as a [[World Heritage Site]].<ref>http://www.offaly.ie/NR/rdonlyres/BD3FA9F3-1AB0-42DF-94B9-B8EC57F8A17B/354/Vol20120S202.pdf</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 14:24, 23 March 2008
Esker Riada, (Irish: Eiscir Riada), is a system of ridges that stretch across the narrowest point of Ireland, between Dublin and Galway.
Geography
The Esker Riada is a collection of eskers, that passes through the counties of Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Westmeath, Offaly, Roscommon and Galway.
The eskers take the form of relatively low-lying ridges composed of sand, gravel and boulders; deposited by water flowing beneath a glacier; that became exposed when the glacier melted at the end of the last ice age, around 10,000 years ago.
Historical Significance
The Irish name 'Eiscir Riada' provides an indication of the significance of the eskers, 'Eiscir' meaning 'divide' and 'Riada' meaning 'road'.[1]
Following a battle at Maynooth, in the year 123 AD, the island of Ireland was divided into two political entities along the line of the eskers – ‘Leath Cuinn’ (‘Conn’s Half’) to the north, and ‘Leath Mogha’ (‘Mogha’s Half’) to the south.[2]
Because the slightly higher ground of the Esker Riada provided a route through the bogs of the Irish midlands it has, since ancient times, formed a highway joining the east and west of Ireland. Indeed, its ancient Celtic name is ‘An Slí Mór’, meaning ‘The Great Highway’.[2][3]
The Great Highway provided a link between Durrow Abbey and the monastic settlement of Clonmacnoise, constructed at the point where the River Shannon passes through the Esker Riada.[2][4]
In contrast with the surrounding boglands, the glacial sands typical of the eskers provided well drained and relatively good quality land, proving useful in agricultural terms.[5]
Present Day
To this day, the Esker Riada continues to serve as a highway, the main N6 Dublin to Galway road still closely following it; and much agricultural activity still takes place along its length.
The eskers have become a valued source of building material, with sand and gravel extraction being commonplace. However, the negative environmental impact of such operations is now being realized and this, along with a developing awareness of the ridge’s natural beauty and its significance in Ireland’s history, has led to increasing restrictions. Indeed, Offaly County has moved to give the ridge protection in its County Development Plan, and has gone so far as to press to have the Esker Riada recognized as a World Heritage Site.[6]
References
- ^ http://www.offaly.ie/NR/rdonlyres/465BA817-6F7F-4079-A21A-77A9D8A7D5A0/1109/Chapter16LandscapeandAmenities_FEB_08.pdf
- ^ a b c http://homepage.eircom.net/~williamfinnerty/chaplefinnerty/esker/riada1.htm
- ^ http://islesproject.com/2007/11/12/geology-of-britain/
- ^ http://www.ireland.com/focus/heritage/p4a.htm
- ^ http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/47417/what_lies_beneath__it_has_taken_millions_of_millennia/
- ^ http://www.offaly.ie/NR/rdonlyres/BD3FA9F3-1AB0-42DF-94B9-B8EC57F8A17B/354/Vol20120S202.pdf