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THE AWBEG RIVER
There are two branches of the Awbeg River:- Abha Bheag - "The Little River", Spencers - "Gentle Mulla", rises as two different streams which meet at Scart Bridge, one mile west of Shinnagh Railway Bridge. Branch (1) - Rises in Limerick as the Gralgne River and enters Co. Cork a half mile north-east of Ardskeagh Cross Roads, then flows west under the Dublin Railway Line and south under Farran bridge on the Buttevant/Charlevllle road. And on to Scart Bridge to join Branch (2).
Branch (2) - Rises about two miles north of Liscarroll and flows south and then turns north and west under Annagh Bridge to join Branch (1) at Scart Bridge. From here the river flows south through Buttevant and east through Doneraile, turns south near Shanballymore and through Castletownroche to enter the Blackwater at Poulcormac near Bridgetown Abbey.
Buttevant Bridge:
The old bridge over the Awbeg River in Buttevant is a curiosity (Blake's Bridge). Many years ago it was widened, but
not too much. It now presents two different faces. The arches at the south side are pointed, those on the north, being the
more modem additives are round. The original breath was about one-third of the present. The masonry is antique in
character and similar to the Franciscan Abbey, a short distance away.
Clapper Bridge Near Ballybeg Abbey:
Long ago where streamlets were not deep a number of stepping stones or "clocher" were used in getting from one
side to the other. On large rivers a "tochar" or causeway was made of large boulders heaved one after the other into the
water till eventually they came above the surface.
About the year 750A.D. wooden bridges came into use but it was not until the coming of the Anglo-Normans in the
12th century that stone bridges became general. The first attempts were primitive and were known as "Clappe" bridges
which were of cyclopean mould and composed of enormous stones. The roadway or passage on top is made of huge
transverse slabs 9 to 12 ft. long and 4 or 5 ft. wide and thick in proportion. This bridge in Springfield was erected in the
early part of the 13th century by the Augustinian Friars of Ballybeg for convenience in crossing the Awbeg to their mill
and lands beyond. The transverse slabs measure 9 to 10 ft. in length and are wide and thick in proportion and each weighs
a ton. Five arches can still be seen and three of the largetransverse slabs. A few Clapper or Cyclpean bridges also exist in
Devonshire, but they are now very rare and this one at Springfield is the finest in Ireland and well worth a visit. These Clapper bridges were probably so called from the resemblance of the spanning transverse stresses, running from buttress to buttress and very long and comparatively thin in proportion to their length to the clapper or staves of a barrel. The stone of which the Springfield Bridge is composed is limestone of which there is abundance in the adjacent quarry.
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Knockanare Well:
Knockanare Well is situated on the left bank of the Awbeg river, about a half-mile
east of Buttevant, S.E. of the
Ballyhoura mountains. On the mountains Flonn Mac Cumhail and his men spent
many- a day hunting wild animals. One day one of Fionn's men strayed from his
companies and compelled to seek the local hospitability. He was entertained by a
local chieftain and fell in love with his daughter. He asked her hand in marriage but was
refused. The two lovers agreed to elope. The Chieftain hearing of this was very angry
and called his soldiers together. The young warrior, to prove his worth, met them at
Ballyhoura, where, after fighting heroicly, he was seriously wounded. On the advice of
the people in the neighbourhood he bathed himself in Knockanare well and was
instantly cured. The well is now covered up with all kinds of bushes etc. other stories
are also recited about this well. The water from it will not boil. Two trout are seen in it
at certain times of the year. Another story is told about golden gates which are
supposed to be hidden at Knockanare. Fierce fighting took place here at one time.
During the battle the wounded Irish were taken to Knockanare well and were instantly
cured. An English general being told of the miracles refused to believe in them.
However, his son was wounded and was taken by some of the Irish soldiers to the
well where he was cured. Tradition has it that the father erected golden gates near the
well
because of the great joy at the sudden recovery of his son. The gates were taken
down some years later and hidden in
the locality. Many attempts have been made to get them.
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