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The eskers have become a valued source of building material, with sand and gravel extraction being commonplace. However, the negative environmental impact of such operations is now being realized and this, along with a developing awareness of the ridge and its significance in
Irelandâs history, has
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road still closely following it; and much agricultural activity still takes place along its length. The Dublin part begins at High Street, beside Wood Quay, where the Viking settlement and the original ford made of hurdles, or basketwork, that gives Dublin its name
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The eskers take the form of relatively low-lying ridges composed of sand, gravel and boulders deposited by water flowing beneath a glacier that became exposed when the glacier melted at the end of the last ice age, around 10,000 years ago.
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led to increasing restrictions. Indeed, Offaly County
Council has moved to give the ridge protection in its County Development Plan, and has gone so far as to press to have the Esker Riada recognized as a
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What lies beneath ; It has taken millions of millennia for the Irish landscape to evolve - and the result is unique in its diversity, writes Eileen
Battersby - Science - redOrbit
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In contrast with the surrounding boglands, the glacial sands typical of the eskers provided well drained and relatively good quality land, proving useful for agriculture.
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of the Irish midlands. It has, since ancient times, formed a highway joining the east and west of
Ireland. Indeed, its ancient
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100:. A large remnant of the Esker exists in the Teernacreeve region of Westmeath, and stretches from Kilbeggan to Tyrrellspass.
135:, in the second century, the island of Ireland was divided into two political entities along the line of the eskers â â
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meaning "a ridge, an elevation (separating two plains or depressed surfaces)" and the second is from Old Irish
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provides an indication of the significance of the eskers. The first element (and
English
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which refers to "riding, driving" (later "taming") of the horses or oxen driven on it.
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Because of its slightly higher ground, the Esker Riada provided a route through the
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Toner, G.; NĂ Mhaonaigh, M.; Arbuthnot, S.; Wodtko, D.; Theuerkauf, M.-L. (eds.).
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Toner, G.; NĂ Mhaonaigh, M.; Arbuthnot, S.; Wodtko, D.; Theuerkauf, M.-L. (eds.).
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To this day, the Esker Riada continues to serve as a highway, the main
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and follows southwest through
Kilmainham to Greenhills Road.
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Landscape typical of the Esker Riada, County
Westmeath
322:Geology of British Isles « The Isles Project
282:eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
252:eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
154:name is âAn tSlĂ MhĂłrâ, meaning âThe Great Wayâ.
356:"Section 2 Development Strategies and Policies:"
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333:ireland.com / Focus / Heritage Ireland
173:, constructed at the point where the
139:â (âConnâs Halfâ) to the north, and â
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409:Historic trails and roads in Ireland
64:that passes through the counties of
60:The Esker Riada is a collection of
32:that stretch across the middle of
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393:Geological Survey Maps Collection
143:â (âMoghaâs Halfâ) to the south.
177:passes through the Esker Riada.
169:and the monastic settlement of
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159:Slighe MhĂłr ('Great Highway')
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161:provided a link between
120:) comes from Old Irish
108:Historical significance
414:2nd century in Ireland
131:Following a battle at
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227:Geography of Ireland
210:World Heritage Site
222:Geology of Ireland
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28:) is a system of
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167:Durrow Abbey
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26:Eiscir Riada
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311:Esker Riada
184:Present day
141:Leath Mogha
137:Leath Cuinn
18:Esker Riada
403:Categories
284:. Dublin:
254:. Dublin:
233:References
36:, between
94:Roscommon
78:Westmeath
48:Geography
372:22 March
278:"1 rĂad"
216:See also
133:Mag Lena
90:Longford
291:4 March
261:4 March
248:"escir"
86:Leitrim
74:Kildare
34:Ireland
197:Galway
193:Dublin
98:Galway
82:Offaly
66:Dublin
62:eskers
42:Galway
38:Dublin
30:eskers
366:(PDF)
359:(PDF)
152:Irish
122:escir
118:esker
70:Meath
22:Irish
374:2008
293:2024
263:2024
157:The
148:bogs
126:rĂad
96:and
40:and
16:The
286:RIA
256:RIA
195:to
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190:N6
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