River Barrow
The Republic of Ireland's one hundred and twenty mile long River Barrow is the country's second longest river.
The River Barrow's source is located in Glenbarrow in the Slieve Bloom Mountains of County Laois and travels first in an easterly direction before changing course to a southerly direction at Monastereven as it makes it’s way towards it's mouth located on the natural harbour of the south eastern coastal city of Waterford.
The river is also referred to as one of the Three Sisters along with the one hundred and fifteen mile long River Siur and the eighty seven mile long River Nore. The River Barrow and River Nore meet just outside the inland port of New Ross in County Wexford and the Rivers Barrow and Nore meet their sister the River Siur in the village of Cheekpoint in County Waterford, an area which is known in Irish as Cumar na d'Tri Uisce - The confluence of the three waters. The village of Cheekpoint lies beneath a dramatic cliff known as Minaun Hill and is famous for it's picturesque harbour and stunning views out across to Waterford Harbour. The three rivers then flow through Waterford Quays located in the heart of the city of Waterford before making their way out to the Celtic Sea, which is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean, along the east side of the picturesque Hook Peninsula which is lined with quaint fishing villages and pristine beaches, before passing Hook Head the site of the world's oldest working lighthouse, the Hook Lighthouse, where there has been a working lighthouse since 1240.
The river flows through the six Irish counties of Laois, Kildare, Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford and Waterford and through the Irish towns of Athy, Bagenalstown, Borris, Carlow / Graiguecullen, Lowtown, Goresbridge, Graiguenamanagh, Maganey, Monasterevin, Milford, Muine Bheag, New Ross, Portarlington, Robertstown, St Mullins and Waterford.
The river has a water catchment area of around 1,864 square miles and is tidal for fifty five miles from the town of Athy to it's estuary. It is here at Athy that the river also connects with the Barrow Line / Barrow Navigation of the country’s eighty two mile long Grand Canal. The Grand Canal links the country's longest river the River Shannon with the River Liffey the main river which flows through Ireland's capital city Dublin.
The river is also joined by the seventy mile long Barrow Way long distance, walking trail located along several surviving former towpaths of a canalised section of the river between the towns of Robertstown in County Kildare and St Mullins in County Carlow.
The River Barrow is served by twenty eight weirs and is navigable by boat for forty six miles between Athy in County Kildare and the former monastic site of St Mullin’s in County Carlow.
The river also flows through Ireland’s only inland port at New Ross in County Wexford.It is here on the quay of this once bustling inland port town, which is located twenty miles from the sea, that the three masted barque and former emigrant ship the Dunbrody, pictured below, is moored.
The river is spanned by several interesting bridges along it's course, including a three arched aqueduct built in 1825 located at Monastereven in County Kildare, an ancient stone bridge in Leighlinbridge in County Clare which was originally constructed in 1320, a seven arch stone bridge at Graiguenamanagh in County Kilkenny, an unusual iron lifting bridge found in Ferry Mountgarret in County Kilkenny, a Victorian, brick built rail bridge at Bagenalstown in County Carlow and a stone bridge built in 1796 known as the Crom – a – Boo Bridge (pictured above) which is located next to a fifteenth century castle known as White’s Castle located in Athy in County Kildare.
The River Barrow is also the site of Ireland's longest rail bridge, the aptly named Barrow Bridge, which is 2,131 feet / 649 meters in length. The single track, steel truss bridge with a mid section which can open up to allow river traffic to pass below it, is located near the Great Island Power Station in County Wexford but is now no longer used for rail traffic.
The river also makes it’s way through miles of lowland peat bogs and lush countryside and it is here in these rural areas that the river has become one of Ireland's premier salmon fishing rivers.
