| Graiguenamanagh to Carriglead Lock |
History
Graiguenamanagh quay
is on the west bank but you must cross back again
to the east side before passing the bridge. Upper
Tinnahinch Weir and Cut are immediately below
the bridge. The weir at Lower Tinnahinch is downstream
and is known as 'Uisce Mor'. There is some silting
at the exit from Lower
Tinnahinch Lock. |
| The bridge at Graiguenamanagh was built by
George Semple in the 1760's, replacing a fifteenth
century stone bridge. The east end was partly
demolished in 1798. The navigation formerly
passed up the west side of the river here and
traces of the lock and old harbour may be seen
from the bridge. There were two dry docks, recently excavated, on the old site. On the east bank
above the bridge is the site of the old navigation
hotel. |
| Graiguenamanagh is well known for its abbey
which is a short distance up the town on the
west side of the river. The abbey of Duiske,
a Cistercian house, was founded in 1204. It flourished
until the suppression of the monastries in the
sixteenth century. The abbey and lands were then
granted to the ninth Earl of Ormond. The abbey
church was allowed to decay and the abbey grounds
were absorbed into the town. In 1813 a portion
of the original abbey church was reroofed and
further restoration was carried out later, some
of it of a very crude nature. The processional
door is a fine example of a thirteenth century
knight in armour. The abbey church was completely
restored by 1980. |
| Tinnahinch Castle, beside the lock, was a Butler
castle built to defend the ford. In the 1540s
a wooden bridge was built accross the river here,
and the castle was an important defensive position
in the prolonged struggle between the Butlers
and the Kavanaghs. The castle was further strengthened
in the seventeenth century and was held by the
Confederates in the Cromwellian wars. |
| Locks |
Upper Tinnahinch 3.7ft
(1m) fall |
| |
Lower Tinnahinch 9.75ft
(3m) fall |
| Facilities |
| All services |
Graiguenamanagh
Tinnahinch. |
|
|
| Lock-keeper |
James Butler, Upper Tinnahinch, (059) 9724505 |
