A fun but short, continuous and tight, underappreciated gem of Wicklow.
The river is tight and pretty fast, trees and foliage from both banks are semi in the way most of the way down. Case in point just after you launch under the bridge at the get on a tree covers river right so the leftmost arch needs to be taken.
Most of the river is tight and speedy sections with some rocks to dodge but all read and run, while there are few good eddies there is little need as no features present major hazards or require scouting.
Half way down is the main section of rapids which can be scouted ahead of time by walking down to the bank at the set of wood lodges closest to the get on, it has a black and white gate from the road. The rapid varies from a set of small drops and slides at normal levels to a long continuous rapid with the biggest drop forming a decently sized hole river right pushing into the rock wall river right so shooting it left is ideal. A big eddy river right midway down after the main drop and a big eddy just after the section ends makes rescues easy.
Not much of note for the rest of the river, a downed telephone line just after the main rapid lies in the water but it has snapped now as is no longer across the river.
In big flows one more lone drop another bit down the river forms a decent tow back and requires a bit of a boof.
The get off is at the bridge. The banks river right before the bridge can be used but is someones back garden, they have let the garden be used as a get off but would only do so with their permission. Alternatively a small eddy after the bridge river left can be used, the field between it and the road is fenced off with barbed wire. The eddy is also only big enough for one boat.
Has had some issues in the past with trees and downed cables
No known issues, Strandbridge Cottage get on don’t mind paddlers using this area as the get on once they are not interfered with. Family in the Bridge Cottage are also very happy to allow paddlers to use their garden for the get out but should be talked with directly beforehand. Alternative get off below the bridge does require some light trespassing but locals haven’t had any issues with this before.
If eddies at the get off are apparent then its not too high, if an island splits the flow below the get off bridge it could be quite low. Scouting the main feature will give you the best idea of the levels.
Take the road between Glenmalure and the Greenan bridge, on the section of the road where it is called Kirikee there is a set of 10 houses. There is a laneway next to the easternmost house which takes you down to the gate lodge of the Ballinacor Estate, just inside this gate is another gate to its right, this is the get on. Cars can be parked on the side of the main road across from the row of houses.
From the end of the Riverside road in Greenan where the main bridge across the Aughrim is found, the best parking is found if you take the bridge road south-west, just past the bridge cottage, and take your first right, this leaves you on the road down the the St Columba’s Church, a wide road with space for plenty cars to park. The point on the bank at which to get off can be either just before the bridge on river right into the garden of the Bridge Cottage if you first clear it with the family living there, otherwise a small eddy just past the bridge on river left can be used however this requires exiting via a field with a barbed wire fence you must cross.
