The River Rye flows through the back of the Intel Ireland’s 350 acre manufacturing campus in Leixlip, County Kildare. It is a tributary of the famous River Liffey, which flows through Dublin city and it joins the Liffey near Leixlip. The Rye is the only significant salmon spawning and nursery stream in the Liffey catchments, downstream of Leixlip dam. Today, the river is a big attraction for game fishing and is home to the Leixlip Anglers. But it wasn't always like this. As recently as 1993, the Rye was so overgrown with weeds from heavy silting that its natural fish habitat had been destroyed. Only a few salmon spawning beds had managed to survive given the problems with silting and bank side erosion.

In 1994, Intel agreed to sponsor a major enhancement of the River Rye. To maximise the Rye’s potential as a natural salmon and trout habitat, Intel worked with the Zoology Department in University College Dublin (UCD), Central Fisheries Board and the Office of Public Works to plan and complete the work.

With funding from Intel, UCD continues to monitor progress and developments in the River Rye. The extensive database on the physical and environmental features of the river, which UCD had gathered both prior to and during the enhancement project in 1994, are used to assess the impact of the changes that were carried out. Indications are that fish numbers have increased significantly.

A team of interested people meet five times throughout the year to discuss the health of the river and plan areas for improvement. As a result of their meetings, a further enhancement project took place throughout 2005 and 2006 where spawning beds were constructed at designated points on the river. The group is made up of representatives from Intel, Leixlip District Angling Association, the Water Balif, the Central Fisheries Board, Kildare County Council, Ryevale Residents’ Association, Zoology Department UCD and Leixlip Town Council.

A local angler enjoys the salmon and trout fishing on Leixlip's River Rye, restored by Intel Ireland