Posted by PJ on May 27, 2002 at 12:37:52: In Reply to: Re: River posted by Murrisk on May 24, 2002 at 03:49:35: Fascinating discussion y'all. In terms of where did the river diversion theory come from out of the discussion here I'm bound to wonder to what degree it is a piece of local lore even though personally I always maintained it had some credence or logic about it. I think I first heard it whilst in National School in Breaffy about 20+ years ago - I must check Tom Higgins book again to see does he make any reference to it. In terms of the reason for the canalization I would speculate that if it did pursue the alleged course round the Mall perimeter that that A. I would have been very shallow and wide and B. The entire alrea around Main Street up to Chapel street would have been very Marshy and quite inhabitable. Further more supporting the logic of the original course it would seem that the site of the Barry castle was somwhere around the Lucan House / Convent which would probabaly have been located beside the river thus supporting the original course theory. I would speculate that the rerouting took place some time between the 14th and 16th Century. That's my take on it anyway for what it's worth
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