Kenmare River

Despite its name, Kenmare River is a body of salt water, and is alternatively called Kenmare Bay. The use of the term "river" was historically enforced by Lansdowne lords in order to retain fishing rights, and it was later retained by cartographers. The bay is fed by an actual river, Roughty River (An Ruachtach), at the very junction of Iveragn and Beara peninsulas, just south of Kenmare. The traditional Irish name of the bay was Inbhear Scéine, from the Irish inbhear meaning 'estuary', which is recorded in the 11th century narrative Lebor Gabála Érenn as the arrival point of the Irish mythological ancestor Partholón. ==Nature and conservation==

Kenmare River and the surrounding areas are a sanctuary to wild salmon and a home to many other species, including narrow-mouthed whorl snail, lesser horseshoe bat, otter, and common seal, arctic tern, burrowing anemone, and many more. and local fishermen communities put the blame on sea lice infestations caused by the operation of salmon farms. Local residents have also been protesting against seaweed harvesting in the bay. Approximately stretching from Kenmare to Lamb's Head on the Iveragh Peninsula, and to Dursey Sound on the Beara Peninsula is now designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) which are "prime wildlife conservation areas in the country, considered to be important on a European as well as Irish level", even though the proposal to designate was initially opposed. == References ==