[2][3] Edmund Spenser, who lived at the nearby Kilcolman Castle, also reputedly referred to the Awbeg as "the gentle Mullagh" (or "Mulla").

The first rises in County Limerick as the Gralgne River and enters County Cork a half mile north-east of Ardskeagh Cross Roads, then flows west under a railroad bridge and south under Farran bridge on the Buttevant/Charlevllle road.

[5] The river supports a range of plant species including dropwort, pondweed, club-rush, water-cress and Ranunculus.

The river is largely fringed by a narrow strip of marsh vegetation, dominated by reed-canary grass.

These include a well on the grounds of Blackwater Castle, in Castlewidenham townland near Castletownroche, which is close to a former sheela na gig site.