Staplestown to Ballinacarrig.
This is a length of 1 mile, with a total fall of 5 feet. The river is
very shoaly, and the bed for the most part hard clay and gravel, with
stones intermixed; the flood water rises from 2 to 3 feet over the
adjoining lands. The valley, however, is comparatively narrow, and the
callow land not extensive. Immediately below Staplestown bridge and mill
the ground on either side the river rises abruptly; as before remarked,
the water is made to pass through two arches out of the six which
compose this bridge, and the flood line rises to within 9 inches of the
soffit of the two arches referred to.
The tail gait [??] of the mill discharges into the river half a mile
below Staplestown bridge. There is no tributary stream worthy of remark,
in the length I have just described.
From Ballinacarrig bridge to the River Barrow.
This is a distance of 2˝ miles, on which the total fall is 29 feet; 22
feet of this is applied to mill purposes, and is divided into four heads
or falls, which belong respectively to the Castle mills, the Carlow
mills, the Steam mill, and the Springfield mill.
These follow each other closely and consecutively, the head water of one
being the tail of the next above, with no intermediate fall, except in
the case of the reach between the Steam mill and Springfield mill, which
latter is the highest of the series; and here the fall to spare is very
trifling indeed. Each of these mills use the whole of the Burren water,
none goes to waste except in time of flood, and in summer time and dry
seasons the supply is not sufficient, and the mills are idle in
consequence for a portion of their time.
The stream which is crossed by Quinagh bridge joins the Burren between
Springfield and the Steam mills, on the south. There is a considerable
tract of injured land along this stream, in the townlands of Quinagh
Park, Ballycarney, &c., which should naturally be drained into the
Burren, but the existence of the Steam mill head weir interferes; and
Colonel Bruen has been obliged to close the Quinagh bridge to prevent
back water, and carry the drainage of these lands to the River Barrow.
It is fortunate that the alternative of so doing should exist, even
though the course is considerably lengthened.
The head water of Springfield mill is but 6 feet below the level of the
land at Ballinacarrig bridge, which is three-fourths of a mile upstream
from the mill.
There is no properly constructed weir at Springfield, and the water is kept
up by a rude mole of stones, and a
bank planted with osiers, &c., which serves to direct the
water from the regular river-course, and all is taken to the mill except
what leakage may allow to pass, or surplus waters in the time of flood.
The other 2 mills I have named are in the town of Carlow, and, as above
observed in the commencement of this Report, are not directly productive
of injury to land. The Steam mill and Springfield mill cause flooding to
a certain extent, as before explained, but no alteration in these would
be entirely effective, short of the absolute removal of the former,
which, coupled with a lowering of the head and tail water of Springfield
mill, would enable us to make the drainage of the lands between Carlow
and Ballinacarrig much more complete than it otherwise can be. The
expense, however, which would attend the carrying out of this
arrangement, would, I conceive, be greater than the concomitant
advantages derivable would warrant.
I am therefore constrained to exclude it, and improve the lands referred
to only so far as it may be practicable to relieve them without
injurious interference with the mills.
It would
appear that the effectual drainage and improvement of the valley of the
Burren, is a measure which has long been contemplated by several of the
proprietors interested, and in 1831 a survey was made for the Earl of
Bessborough by Mr. John Walker (who is now the county surveyor for
Carlow) of that portion of the river more immediately affecting his
Lordship’s property, with a view, as appears from the map, of forming an
improved channel, and relieving the lands from flood.
The survey embraces the length of river between Miltown and Killane
bridges; it is a skeleton plan, showing merely the present river-course
and a proposed new channel.
[1]
I presume it was found impracticable to produce any permanently useful
effects from a partial improvement such as could be carried out by any
single proprietor, however enterprising.. Entire unanimity and
co-operation amongst all the landowners along the river could alone have
enabled Lord Bessborough to carry his laudable intentions of improvement
into effect; and for want of this unanimity, which it is difficult to
meet with where many are concerned, the project was not matured, and in
all probability would never be proceeded with, were it not for the
provisions of the recent Drainage Acts, whereby the difficulties I have
referred to are removed, and there is now, I hope, a fair prospect of
the measure being carried out in all its integrity, as one that must be
productive of general good in the country, and prove highly beneficial
and remunerative to all classes concerned.
It is true that either the upper or lower division of
the Burren might be improved
irrespectively of the other; but the improvement of the former would
tend to increase the injury on the latter, unless it too was relieved;
and the upper division being the more important of the two, their
combination becomes indispensable to complete the success of the
measure.
I
make these remarks, because the memorial which led to the examination of
the district seems only to contemplate the portion of the river from
Garryhill to Ballynunnery, which is what I have termed the upper
division.
Such a limitation, however, I have not adhered to, for the reasons I
have stated, and also because any curtailment in the natural extent of a
river or district would be contrary to the general instructions of the
Board.
Proposed Improvements—Upper Division.
It
will be necessary, throughout the whole of this division, to straighten
the course of the river. In all cases where it can be done
efficaciously, I propose that a give-and-take line be adopted. In some
few places this general rule will have to be departed from; and in such
cases, the inconvenience to proprietors must be remedied (if required),
either by purchase of the severances by the Commissioners, or the
construction of occupation bridges to communicate therewith.
I propose that no part of the new channel bed shall be less
than 8 feet below the level of the lands adjoining, and in most
instances a greater depth will he provided, so as to afford sufficient
fall for the lengthy tributaries, and at the same time insure to the
proprietors the necessary facilities for thorough- drainage.
I
would wish to adhere as much as possible to the natural valley of the
Burren, in which it at present flows (i.e.), in the construction
of the improved channel; but there are two points where a considerable
deviation might probably be made with advantage. The first would leave
the river immediately below Miltown bridge, and take the line of the
barony boundary to Clonee West, whence it might either follow the same
boundary to its junction with the Burren at Roslee, or go the more
direct course between Clashganny and Raheenwood. My object in proposing
this change is to avoid the sandy strata in the old course, which
supplies material for so many shoals, and carry the cut through a
subsoil of a different and more favourable nature, as I believe will be
found in the new line. This, however, will require more minute
examination before execution, and if the benefit I anticipate from the
change should not be borne out, the old course must be followed, and the
sides protected from abrasion by pavement to such extent as the
existence of the objectionable stratum may render advisable.
The only other point where there appear to be inducements to
deviate, is immediately above Killane bridge. Here the present river
takes an awkward turn to the east, and after passing Ballintrane bridge,
it turns again with great abruptness towards the west. If so happens
that the ground in a line nearly direct between these bends is low and
flat, and if the river were brought that way, there is no doubt but a
great improvement would be attained, as regards its direction and powers
of discharge, without incurring any great additional expense.
I
have had the levels taken on the tributary streams, including Shangarry
midstream, Blackford river, Fennagh river, and Janeville stream, also
that extending to Lisgarvan and Ballylean, and several others whose
ramifications, coupled with the numerous main drains that communicate
with them, extend over a large tract, and are the means of doing much
mischief in their present state. I propose, in every instance, to follow
up these streams and drains to the fullest extent, opening, deepening,
and enlarging all belonging to the Burren catchment that are at all
productive of injury by reason of incapacity or present want of rail.
This will confer great benefit on large portions of lands comparatively
distant from the Burren river itself, extending to Newtown and Nurney on
the west, and to Myshall and Ballykealy on the east.
As a general rule I propose that all townland and parish
boundary streams shall be improved, also all main drains and
water-courses, tributary, directly or indirectly, to the Burren, and
where extensive flats or swamps are included in land to be improved, it
is proposed that a series of deep tap drains be judiciously run through
them communicating with proper outlets, so that real and immediate
benefit may be derived.
I
have endeavoured to show upon the general Ordnance plan the probable
position and extent of these drains; minute examinations, as the work
proceeds, will no doubt lead to changes in the directions of some to
suit local circumstances, and accord with the wishes of those
interested, where such would not be at variance with the efficiency of
the work.
The amount included in my estimate for the drains referred to, will be
found sufficient for the general purposes intended, affording, by the
sinking of the main outlet streams, to the proprietors or others an
opportunity of carrying out a system of perfect drainage, if they should
think fit to do so.
With regard to the bridges I may remark that the majority
are of very early date, extremely faulty in construction and design, and
insufficient for the discharge; moreover, the intended channel bed will,
in most cases, be several feet below the foundation level of the
masonry. For these reasons I have deemed it necessary to recommend that
new bridges be built, as set forth in the tabular statement at the end
of this Report. The expenses attendant on this part of the operations
must be borne by the county, as provided by the Drainage
Acts. There are also numerous insufficient culverts on the several
tributary streams. It is not necessary here to describe them, but I have
made provisions for their reconstruction in my estimate, and the
expense, where public roads are crossed, will be chargeable to the
county. There are no mills on the Burren river between those of Miltown
and Ballynunnery, but there are small corn mills on two of the
tributaries, viz., Shangarry and Templepeter. These will in no way be
injured by the proposed works, a lowering of the head and tail race in
equal proportions is the only interference that can arise to either.
Neither Milford nor Ballynunnery mill will be disturbed, nor their
effective head diminished, although each may be improved by a lowering
of their tail water; and a new weir will be constructed at Ballynunnery.
There is no rock visible anywhere on the river bed throughout this
division till we arrive at Ballynunnery falls before referred to.
[1]
The Plan which is here referred to was furnished to the
Commissioners by the Earl of Bessborough, with a view to afford
assistance in the examination of the District.
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