River Erne
{{short description|River in northwestern Ireland}}
{{for|the river in Scotland|River Earn}}
{{use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{use Hiberno-English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox river
| name = River Erne
| image = Ballyshannon town, Ireland.jpg
| image_caption = The River Erne in Ballyshannon
| native_name = {{native name|ga|An Éirne}}
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 7
| source1_location = Slieve Glah, County Cavan, Ireland
| mouth_location = Donegal Bay at Ballyshannon, County Donegal
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|54.5074|N|8.2585|W|display=title|region:GB_type:river_source:GNS-enwiki}}
| subdivision_type1 = Countries
| subdivision_name1 = Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland
| length = ~{{convert|129|km|abbr=on}}
| source1_elevation = ~{{convert|255|m|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_avg = {{convert|101.7|m3/s|abbr=on}}
| basin_size_km2 = 4,372
| tributaries_left = Arney River, Sillees River
| tributaries_right = River Annalee, River Finn (Erne tributary), Colebrooke River, Ballycassidy River, Kesh River, Brannagh River
| extra =
}}
The River Erne ({{IPAc-en|ɛər|n}} {{respell|AIRN}}, {{langx|ga|Abhainn na hÉirne}} or An Éirne) in the northwest of the island of Ireland, is the second-longest river in Ulster, flowing through Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and forming part of their border.
Course
The Erne rises on the east shoulder of Slieve Glah mountain{{cite book|url = http://www.geologicalmaps.net/IrishHistMapsDownload/B02044.pdf | via = geologicalmaps.net | title = Explanatory Memoir, sheets 68 and 69 of the Geological Survey of Ireland, 1878 | date = 1878 | series = Memoirs of the Geological Survey }} three miles south of Cavan in County Cavan, Republic of Ireland, and flows 80 miles (129 km){{cite book | url = https://archive.org/details/notesonriverbas00willgoog | title = Notes on River Basins | page = 67 | first = Robert A. | last = Williams | date = 1872 | via = archive.org }} through Lough Gowna, Lough Oughter and Upper and Lower Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, to the sea at Ballyshannon, County Donegal back in the Republic.{{cite web | title=Fisheries - River Erne | work=Ireland Fly Fishing | url=http://www.irelandflyfishing.com/fisheries.php?&fisheries_id=26 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713055000/http://www.irelandflyfishing.com/fisheries.php?&fisheries_id=26 | url-status=dead | archive-date=13 July 2011 | access-date=28 February 2009 }} The river is 120 kilometres long and is used for fly fishing for trout and salmon, with a number of fisheries along both the river itself and its tributaries. The town of Enniskillen is mostly situated on an island in the river, between Upper and Lower Lough Erne. It is linked to the River Shannon by the Shannon–Erne Waterway.
The total catchment area of the River Erne is 4,372 km2.{{cite report|url = http://www.serbd.com/MultiDownloads/Creport/Chapters/Physical%20Description%20Ch3.pdf | title = South Eastern River Basin District Management System | website = serbd.com | page = 38 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222354/http://www.serbd.com/MultiDownloads/Creport/Chapters/Physical%20Description%20Ch3.pdf |archivedate=2016-03-03 }}
The long-term average rate of the River Erne is 101.7 cubic metres per second (m3/s).
Name
Pleasure boating
Live-aboard pleasure cruisers operate from several locations along the Erne waterway, including Belturbet, Knockniny, Carrybridge, Bellanaleck, Enniskillen, and Killadeas.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} In addition to the use of the Erne for live-aboard boating holidays, sections of the river are used for water skiing, bank fishing, trolling, jet skiing and scuba diving.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} Boaters are cautioned, by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, that Upper Lough Erne is a maze of small islands needing careful navigation, and waves on Lower Lough Erne can reach "open-sea dimensions".{{Cite web|url=http://www.geographia.com/northern-ireland/ukifer01.htm|title = Northern Ireland - County Fermanagh/Lough Erne | website = geographia.com }}
Ancient ruins
The Erne waterway is home to ancient ruins, both Christian and Pagan, with ruins found in several locations, including: Crom Estate, on the North bank of the Upper Erne channel, Gad Island, near Crom Estate, Devenish Island, Inismacsaint Island, Davy’s Island, White Island, and Boa Island. Many of these locations can only be reached by boat.
Devenish Island has a historical display centre adjacent to its ruins. Visitors sometimes use rental boats and the Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland Activity Map of Lough Erne ({{ISBN|978-1-905306-26-8}}) to locate these ancient sites.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}
Culture
The song Buachaill Ón Éirne is an Irish ballad about a young boy from the Erne area. It has been recorded by such groups as Clannad and The Corrs.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
The Erne is also mentioned in a traditional song, An Mhaighdeán Mhara, which has been recorded by Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh of Altan, Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill, and Moya Brennan.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
Former railway lines
File:Belturbet, old railway bridge.jpg being a viaduct spanning the river near Belturbet railway station.]]
A number of places were once accessible by train along the River Erne, with the once extensive Great Northern Railway and the Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway both serving the area.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20051122055910/http://iwai.ie/nav/erne.html Information and maps of the Erne from the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland]
{{commons category|River Erne}}
{{Rivers of Ireland}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Erne}}
Category:Rivers of County Cavan
Category:Rivers of County Donegal