AFTA Operations Caroline Twomey takes a trip flying high over the River Blackwater, Ireland’s third largest river, which rises in the mountains east of Killarney.
She left from Cork Airport, meeting up with the river flowing east towards Lismore, where it finally enters the sea at Youghal.
There are few if any, rivers in Ireland so beautiful as the Blackwater.
Flanked by the Knockmealdown mountains and inhabited by untamed wildlife, the river as you can see from her photos is absolutely breath-taking.
At Cappoquin the waters are tidal and salmon are constantly running.
A river steeped in history, her banks are dotted with lovingly maintained stately homes and stunning architecture.
This majestic waterway was once the breadline of the region. In the pre-railway period before 1877, there was much traffic on the river.
Barges known locally as “market boats,” and small sailing ships brought merchandise from Youghal and returned to that port with the produce of the farms and the mills in the fertile valley.
Thanks, Caroline for some great photos, we hope you enjoyed your flight on such a lovely, sunny evening!
