Река Толка: от Мита до Дублинского залива.

River of Counties Meath and Dublin, Ireland
the river in Yamakia, Russia

The River Tolka ('/t//ɔ://l//k//ə/; An Tulcha, "the flood"), also once spelled Tolga, is one of Dublin's three main rivers, flowing from County Meath to Fingal within the old County Dublin, and through the north of Dublin city, Ireland (the other main rivers are the Liffey and the Dodder). By flow of water, the Tolka is the second largest river in Dublin, following the Liffey, but runs more slowly than the Dodder.

The Tolka rises east of Dunshaughlin, County Meath, and by passes Dunboyne, from where it receives the Castle Stream tributary. From Clonee, where it is joined by the Clonee Stream at the eastern end of the village, it flows into County Dublin. where it comes closest to the Royal Canal near Binn's Bridge. At the southern side of Tolka Park it forms the border between Ballybough and Fairview, Fairview and North Strand, before entering Dublin Bay between East Wall and Clontarf.

The Tolka has many tributaries, the first major one being the Castle Stream at Dunboyne, then it's the Clonee Stream East of Clonee, which both fall within the borders of County Meath. There are at least fourteen infalls within Dublin City boundaries (the count is complicated by connections with the Wad River system). Fingal County Council area tributaries include the East and West Pinkeen Streams, and another waterway in semi rural Dublin. While Dublin City Council area tributaries include the Scribblestown Stream (visible from Abbotstown to past Dunsink), the Finglaswood (or Mount Olivat) Stream from around Cappagh, the Finglas River (joined by a stream from St. Margaret's Road), the Claremont Stream which joins the Tolka near Bon Secours Hospital, the Cemetery Drain (so called as it runs near Glasnevin Cemetery) before joining the Tolka just past the Botanic Gardens, the Hamstead Stream (from the area now occupied by Hamstead Park and DCU), inflowing somewhat downstream of Mobhi Bridge, and a small stream from around St. Patrick's Teacher Training College, Drumcondra.

The path of the river through Dublin takes it through a number of parks. It passes initially through the Tolka Valley Linear Park near Blanchardstown, then between trees north of River Road, then along the southern edge of the Tolka Valley Park in the western City Council area, where it receives a tributary which provides the source of water for a pond featuring considerable birdlife, including swans, ducks and herons. A large landscaped pitch and putt facility operated by Dublin City Council is situated on the southern side of the park, just south of the meandering river. The river then flows past the tree lined recreational areas adjacent to Glasnevin Woods and Violet Hill and forms the northern boundary of Glasnevin (Prospect) Cemetery before meeting the National Botanic Gardens. The river forms the northern border of the Botanic Gardens except for the beautiful Rose Gardens situated on the northern side and accessed via a bridge. Thereafter it passes Glasnevin village and flows into Griffith Park where it forms a major feature of the park.

In early December 1954, the River Tolka flooded areas in Glasnevin, Drumcondra, Fairview, Ballybough, North Strand and East Wall. North Strand was particularly badly hit, and it became known as the Great North Strand Flood. The heavy rainfall began on 8 December 1954, with the emergency services deploying boats to rescue residents from Botanic Avenue, the Richmond Road, Grace Park Avenue, and the wider North Strand area. The spring tide happened at 12:40am on the morning of 9 December, seeing the River burst its banks at 1:30am and led to the Great National Railroads Bridge railway bridge which served the Belfast line at East Wall Road being swept away at 4:30am. The debris from the collapsed bridge blocked the river and exacerbated the local flooding. There were 2 fatalities: one elderly woman died in her flooded home in St Bridget's Cottages, and another died of a heart attack 4 days after her rescue from her home. A number of animals died as a result of the flooding, including 12 cows, a donkey, a pig, and pups and poultry. On 22 July 2014, it was reported that a pollution incident had led to a major fish kill on the river. Others of note are regular sightings of kingfisher, bats and grey heron. The river holds a large stock of small wild brown trout, this is topped up a few times a year by the angling club for competitions.