Rivers of Ireland

Shown here are all the major rivers and tributaries of Ireland with their lengths (in kilometres and miles). Starting with the Northern Ireland rivers, and going in a clockwise direction, the rivers (and tributaries) are listed in regard to their entry into the different seas: the Irish Sea, the Celtic Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Also shown are two tables. Table 1 shows the longest rivers in Ireland with their lengths (in kilometres and miles), the counties they flow through, and their catchment areas (in square kilometres). Table 2 shows the largest rivers in Ireland (by mean flow) in cubic metres per second.



The longest river in Ireland is the River Shannon, at 360.5 km. The river develops into three lakes along its course, Lough Allen, Lough Ree and Lough Derg. Of these, Lough Derg is the largest. The Shannon enters the Atlantic Ocean at the Shannon Estuary. Other major rivers include the River Liffey, River Lee, River Swilly, River Foyle, River Lagan, River Erne, River Blackwater, River Nore, River Suir, River Barrow (The Three Sisters), River Bann, River Slaney, River Boyne, River Moy and River Corrib.

Longest Irish Rivers (with Basin areas)
Lengths obtained from the Ordnance Survey of Ireland: Rivers and their Catchment Basins 1958 (Table of Reference), and for the rivers Bann and Erne – Notes on River Basins by Robert A. Williams TABLE 1

a
 * The length of the River Shannon from the Shannon Pot to Limerick City is 258 km with a basin area of 11,700 km2.
 * The River Shannon's overall length (to Loop Head), using the Owenmore River (County Cavan) as source, is 372 km, 11 km (7 mi) longer than the Shannon Pot source.
 * The River Shannon's overall length (to Loop Head), using the Boyle River's furthest source, is 392.1 km, making the Boyle-Shannon river the longest natural stream flow (source to sea) in Ireland, 31.6 km (19.5 mi) longer than the Shannon Pot source.
 * The River Shannon is a traditional freshwater river for just about 45% of its total length. Excluding the 63.5 mi tidal estuary from its total length of 224 mi, if one also excludes the lakes (L. Derg 24 mi, L. Ree 18 mi, L. Allen 7 mi plus L. Boderg, L. Bofin, L. Forbes, L. Corry) from the Shannon's freshwater flow of 160.5 mi, the Shannon as a freshwater river is only about 100 mi long.

b
 * The total basin area of the Three Sisters (Barrow, Nore and Suir) is 9,207 km2.

c
 * The traditional length given for the River Bann is 80 miles (129 km) which is the combined total length of Upper and Lower Bann rivers and doesn't include Lough Neagh.
 * The total length of the Ulster Blackwater from its source to the sea via L. Neagh and the Lower Bann is 186.3 km (115.75 mi), surpassed, in Ireland, only by the Shannon and Barrow rivers. This is the longest stream flow (source to sea) in Ulster.

d
 * The total basin area of the 6 km River Corrib is 3,138 km2
 * The total length of the River Robe's journey from its source near Ballyhaunis to Galway Bay (via Lough Mask, Cong canal and river, Lough Corrib and River Corrib) is 72 mi. This is the longest stream flow (source to sea) within the Corrib Basin.

Largest Irish Rivers (by flow)
a The River Shannon's 209 m3/s is to Limerick City (Catchment area: 11,700 km2). If the discharges from all of the rivers and streams into the Shannon Estuary (including the rivers Feale 34.6m3/s, Maigue 15.6m3/s, Fergus 25.7m3/s, and Deel 7.4m3/s) are added to the discharge at Limerick giving a total catchment of 16,865 km2, the total discharge of the River Shannon at its mouth at Loop Head reaches 300 m3/s

b The River Bann's 92 m3/s is to Movanagher Gauging station (Basin area 5209.8 km2). The 102.5 m3/s is based on the total basin area of 5808 km2 .

c The Three Sisters (Barrow, Nore & Suir) total flow into Waterford Harbour is 154 m3/s and the combined flow of the Barrow and Nore rivers is 86 m3/s before joining the river Suir near Waterford City.

Rivers in Ulster
With length in miles (and km)


 * River Crana 12 mi
 * River Lennon (Leannan) 28.5 mi
 * River Foyle 80 mi (total) – that portion named "Foyle" forms the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland
 * Burn Dale (also known as the River Deele) – rises in and flows through the east of County Donegal – 25.5 mi
 * River Finn (Foyle tributary) – rises and flows mainly through County Donegal, Republic of Ireland 39.25 mi
 * River Reelan 10.5 mi
 * River Mourne
 * River Derg 28 mi
 * Mournebeg River 17.25 mi
 * Owenkillew River 30 mi
 * Glenelly River 22 mi
 * Owenreagh River 14 mi
 * River Strule 14.25 mi
 * Camowen River 28 mi
 * Drumragh River 20.5 mi
 * Fairy Water 17.75 mi
 * Drumquin River 9.5 mi
 * Routing Burn 13 mi
 * Owenreagh River 16.5 mi
 * Cloghfin River 14 mi
 * River Faughan 29.5 mi
 * River Roe 34.25 mi
 * River Bann 90 mi
 * River Blackwater 56.7 mi
 * River Callan 26.5 mi
 * Oona Water 17.75 mi
 * River Torrent 25 mi
 * River Tall 22.5 mi
 * River Blackwater (Northern) 35.5 mi
 * River Main 34 mi
 * Six Mile Water 21 mi
 * Ballinderry River 29 mi
 * Moyola River 31 mi
 * Clady River
 * Knockoneil River
 * Grillagh River
 * Agivey River
 * Cusher River 25 mi
 * Clady River
 * Altmore River
 * Cromore Burn
 * Devlin River
 * Cronaniv Burn
 * River Dun
 * River Bush 33.5 mi
 * River Erne 80 mi (See Atlantic rivers)
 * River Lagan 53.5 mi
 * River Farset
 * Blackstaff River
 * River Quoile 27.5 mi
 * Clanrye (Newry) River 27 mi

Rivers in the Republic of Ireland, flowing into the Irish Sea
With length in miles (and km)


 * Castletown River 28 mi
 * Cully Water 14.5 mi
 * Kilcurry River 11.5 mi
 * River Fane 38.25 mi
 * River Glyde 34.75 mi
 * River Dee, County Louth 37.75 mi
 * River Boyne 70 mi
 * River Owenroe (Moynalty) 23.5 mi
 * River Blackwater, Kildare and Meath 20 mi
 * River Blackwater, Cavan and Meath 42.5 mi
 * Moynalty River 23.5 mi
 * Athboy River 22.5 mi
 * Stonestown River 20 mi
 * Dale River 22.5 mi
 * Kinnegad River 19.5 mi
 * Yellow River 16 mi
 * River Tolka 20.75 mi
 * River Liffey 82 mi
 * Kings River 16.5 mi
 * Morell River 7 mi
 * River Rye 15.5 mi
 * Lyreen River
 * River Camac
 * River Poddle
 * River Dodder 17 mi
 * Owendoher River
 * River Dargle 12.5 mi
 * River Vartry 20.5 mi
 * River Avoca (Ovoca) 9.5 mi
 * River Avonmore 22.75 mi
 * River Avonbeg 16.5 mi
 * Aughrim River 5.75 mi
 * River Slaney 73 mi
 * Derreen River 25 mi
 * River Derry 21 mi
 * River Bann (Wexford) 26 mi

Rivers in the Republic of Ireland, flowing into the Celtic Sea
With length in miles (and km)


 * River Barrow 119.5 mi
 * Philipstown River 15.75 mi
 * Figile River 20.75 mi
 * River Slate 17 mi
 * River Triogue 16.75 mi
 * Finnery River
 * Tully Stream 8 mi
 * River Greese 22 mi
 * Burren River 24 mi
 * River Nore 87.75 mi
 * River Erkina 22.5 mi
 * River Goul 23.25 mi
 * River Dinan 24.75 mi
 * Kings River 28.75 mi
 * River Suir 114.75 mi
 * River Drish 19.75 mi
 * River Clodiagh 20.5 mi
 * Aherlow River 27 mi
 * River Ara 18.25 mi
 * River Anner 23.5 mi
 * John's River
 * River Tar 18.75 mi
 * River Duag
 * River Colligan 15 mi
 * River Mahon 15.75 mi
 * River Blackwater, Cork 104.5 mi
 * River Owentaraglen 17.25 mi
 * River Allow 22.75 mi
 * River Funshion 34.75 mi
 * River Finisk 17.5 mi
 * River Awbeg 31.75 mi
 * River Dalua 15.5 mi
 * River Bride 40 mi
 * River Womanagh 19 mi
 * Owenacurra River 13.25 mi
 * Glashaboy River 15 mi
 * River Lee 55.5 mi
 * River Sullane 22.5 mi
 * Shournagh River 17 mi
 * River Bride 21 mi
 * River Bandon 45 mi
 * River Ilen 20.75 mi
 * Argideen River 17.75 mi
 * River Owenabue 20.5 mi

Rivers in the Republic of Ireland, flowing into the Atlantic Ocean
With length in miles (and km)


 * Roughty River 16.75 mi (flowing into Kenmare Bay) at Kenmare
 * River Laune 14 mi
 * River Flesk 28.25 mi
 * Gweestin River 13.75 mi
 * Caragh River 14 mi
 * River Inny (Kerry) 16.5 mi
 * Cummeragh River 9.5 mi
 * River Ferta
 * River Carrowbeg
 * River Maine 26.5 mi
 * Brown Flesk 19.75 mi
 * River Feale 46 mi
 * River Galey 27 mi
 * Allaghaun River 13.75 mi
 * Smerlagh (Smaorlagh) River 15.5 mi
 * Shanow River 15.25 mi
 * River Shannon 224 mi
 * Owenmore River (County Cavan) 9 mi
 * Arigna River 14 mi
 * Feorish River 19.5 mi
 * River Brosna 49.25 mi
 * Clodiagh River 24.25 mi
 * Tullamore River 12.5 mi
 * Silver River 24 mi
 * Bunowen River 16 mi
 * Little Brosna River 36 mi
 * River Camcor 16.25 mi
 * Ballyfinboy River 20.75 mi
 * Nenagh River 28.5 mi
 * Ollatrim River 18.5 mi
 * River Inny 55.5 mi
 * River Tang 15.5 mi
 * River Suck 82.5 mi
 * River Shiven 21.25 mi
 * Boyle River (Total) 40 mi
 * Boyle River 13.75 mi
 * Lung River 17.75 mi
 * Breedoge River 11.75 mi
 * Camlin River 27 mi
 * Mulkear River 15.25 mi
 * Bilboa River 19.5 mi
 * River Deel 39.5 mi
 * River Maigue 38.75 mi
 * River Fergus 36.5 mi
 * River Corrib 5.75 mi
 * Cregg River (via Lough Corrib)
 * River Clare (via Lough Corrib) 57.75 mi
 * Grange River 17 mi
 * Abbert River 25.25 mi
 * River Black 17.75 mi
 * Aille River (Connacht) 18.5 mi
 * Baelanabrack River 11 mi
 * River Robe (via Loughs Mask and Corrib) 39.25 mi
 * River Clarin 19.75 mi
 * Clady River
 * Cromore Burn
 * Cronaniv Burn
 * Kilcolgan River 9.5 mi
 * Dooyertha River 23.75 mi
 * Kinvarra River
 * River Doonbeg 25.75 mi
 * River Inagh 22.75 mi
 * Carrowbeg River 10 mi
 * Bunowen River 13.25 mi
 * River Erriff 20.5 mi
 * Owenglin River 11.5 mi
 * Ballynahinch River 18.5 mi
 * Cashla River 13.25 mi
 * Owenboliska River 13.25 mi
 * Glenamoy River 13.75 mi
 * Cloonaghmore River 19.75 mi
 * Owenmore River (County Mayo) (incl. Carrowmore Lake) 29.25 mi
 * Owenduff River 17.75 mi
 * Newport River 18.25 mi
 * River Moy 62.5 mi
 * Deel River 28 mi
 * Manulla River 19 mi
 * Gweestion River 23 mi
 * Owengarve River 16 mi
 * River Glore 17 mi
 * Easky River, County Sligo 18.5 mi
 * Ballisodare River 5.5 mi
 * Owenmore River (County Sligo) 32.5 mi
 * Owenbeg River 14.75 mi
 * Unshin River 14.25 mi
 * River Garavogue (including L. Gill and R. Bonnet) 31.5 mi
 * River Erne 80 mi – mainly formed by Upper and Lower Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
 * River Annalee 41.75 mi
 * River Cladagh (including Arney) 22 mi
 * Sillees River 33 mi
 * River Ballinamallard 16 mi
 * River Swanlinbar 18 mi
 * River Woodford 18.5 mi
 * Dromore River 23.25 mi
 * Yellow River 17.25 mi
 * Colebrooke River 35 mi
 * Finn River (County Fermanagh and County Monaghan) 31.5 mi
 * Owenea River 16.25 mi
 * Oily River 13 mi
 * Bungosteen River 15.5 mi
 * Ballintra River 14 mi
 * River Eske 15.25 mi
 * Drumenny Burn
 * River Gweebarra 19.75 mi
 * River Swilly 25.5 mi