Rivers
Shannon catchment area
A map of Ireland highlighting the main catchment area of the River Shannon, and also shown the catchment area of other Irish rivers.
Courtesy of Arnold HornerShannon catchment area
Courtesy of Arnold Horner
Courtesy of Arnold Horner
Shannon catchment area
A map of Ireland highlighting the main catchment area of the River Shannon, and also shown the catchment area of other Irish rivers.
Courtesy of Arnold HornerMany of the longer Irish rivers flow, for at least part of their journey to the sea, along courses where the gradient is quite limited. As a result, they are quite sluggish. When there is prolonged rainfall in their upper reaches, they may overflow downstream, flooding adjacent areas. The longest Irish river is the Shannon, which rises on Cuilcagh mountain, Co. Cavan. With its tributaries, notably the Rivers Suck, Inny and Brosna, and the Rivers Fergus and Maigue, which flow into its estuary, it drains over 15700 square kilometres of central Ireland. Its total length is 360.5km including some 102.2 km of tidal water.
Over its first ten kilometres to Lough Allen, the Shannon descends some 500 metres, but along a middle section of some 120km, between Lough Boderg and Lough Derg, the river falls less than nine metres, while at the same time receiving the input of the Suck, Inny and Brosna. Not surprisingly, perhaps this part of the Shannon, which includes the famous Shannon Callows, south of Athlone, and the ancient monastic site of Clonmacnoise, is liable to serious winter flooding, on a scale which so far has proven difficult to control.
River Barrow at Leighlinbridge
The River Barrow at Leighlinbridge, County Carlow. It was an important river crossing as early as the 10th Century. The first stone bridge here was built by Maurice Jakis in c1319. the present bridge which was altered in the 18th Century, dates originally from circa 1650.
Courtesy of Carlow County LibraryRiver Barrow at Leighlinbridge
Courtesy of Carlow County Library
Courtesy of Carlow County Library
River Barrow at Leighlinbridge
The River Barrow at Leighlinbridge, County Carlow. It was an important river crossing as early as the 10th Century. The first stone bridge here was built by Maurice Jakis in c1319. the present bridge which was altered in the 18th Century, dates originally from circa 1650.
Courtesy of Carlow County LibraryAll other rivers are under 200km in length, the longest being the Rivers Barrow
(192km), Suir (184km), (Munster) Blackwater (168km), Erne
(120 km) and Bann (129 km). Along with the Rivers Main and (Ulster) Blackwater, the Bann drains an area of over 5800 square kilometres in the north-east. In the south-east, the Barrow
, Nore and Suir each drain areas of over 5000 square kilometres. The Erne has a drainage or catchment area of 4400 sq.km. By comparison, the rivers feeding into the largest cities drain much smaller areas: the Liffey (126km in length), Lagan (60 km) and Lee (90km) all have catchments under 1,500 sq.km.
Barrow Navigation
Map showing Shannon-Erne Waterway
A map of the canals and waterways of Ireland showing the Shannon- Erne waterway, the Ballinamore and Ulster Canals
Courtesy of John B Cunningham
River Barrow at Leighlinbridge
The River Barrow at Leighlinbridge, County Carlow. It was an important river crossing as early as the 10th Century. The first stone bridge here was built by Maurice Jakis in c1319. the present bridge which was altered in the 18th Century, dates originally from circa 1650.
Courtesy of Carlow County Library
Catchment areas of main rivers
An image containing a digital elevation model of Ireland showing the present topography and main river catchments in Ireland.
Image courtesy of the Royal Dublin Society.Catchment areas of main rivers - Image courtesy of the Royal Dublin Society.
The River Shannon
Diagram showing the River Shannon
Courtesy of SeabhcanThe River Shannon - Courtesy of Seabhcan
Shannon river
Black and white postcard photograph showing the weir and lock in the background and Athlone Castle and left bank of Athlone town in the foreground.
Copyright Westmeath Library ServiceShannon river - Copyright Westmeath Library Service
Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly
The River Shannon at Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly. Here the river flows across a wide, nearly flat lowland that is easily flooded. In the foreground is the round tower of the famous early Christian monastery founded by St. Ciaran in the mid-sixth century.
Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly -
The River Suir in Carrick On Suir.
The River Suir in Carrick On Suir, the only means of transport for goods to Waterford in 1800.
Courtesy of Waterford City LibraryThe River Suir in Carrick On Suir. - Courtesy of Waterford City Library
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