The River Slaney is a hugely important river in County Wexford, although it starts its journey high in the Wicklow Mountains. The river and a number of the smaller rivers that join it are a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), meaning that it has habitats and species that are important in Europe.
The Slaney runs through Bunclody and Clohamon on its way to the sea in Wexford town. Smaller streams like the Boro, Urrin, and Clody run down to the river from the Blackstairs Mountains. The river system is home to many species including salmon, lampreys, otters, and kingfishers. Ireland’s oldest living animal, the freshwater pearl mussel, also lives here.
The current shape of the Slaney has its origins in the glaciers that once covered the area, and its form is heavily influenced by the changes in geology along its length. Rivers have always been important to communities, and the earliest settlements were established near sources of water. An axehead found on the outskirts of Bunclody suggests people have been living in the area for thousands of years. The bridge over the River Slaney was a key element of the Battle of Bunclody during the 1798 rebellion. There is a memorial on the bridge commemorating the battle.
Citizen Science
We have established repeat photography posts at a number of points along the Slaney River Valley SAC, including at Forrestalstown Wood, Clohamon and Baltinglass. You can use these to help monitor changes in water levels and the vegetation.