In Reply to: re: glug, glug, glug . . . posted by Not Drowning but Waving on August 20, 2007 at 22:04:19:

I think as this contour maps displays quite well, the debate about the course of Castlebar river pre canalisation, indicates not necessarily, as I myself have stated before out of something I heard as a youngster, that the course of the river was altered to its present position from one that ran via Cavendish lane, along the edge of the Mall down the lowest point of Castle street and through the Bolgers (Main St/Barrack) car park.

I think that it's not such much that the course of the river was changed but that it was more defined or confined to a specific course so as to reclaim the marsh land along which the river meandered extending from Knockthomas/Linenhall street area to the Mall and site of Old Barry Castle at the barracks.

I expect this engineering took place sometime between the 14th and 17th century, certainly pre 1750.

Of course (excuse the pun!) as ever I'm open to correction!