This is an alphabetical list of the main rivers on the island of Ireland . It includes rivers that flow through the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland . Rivers that flow through Northern Ireland are marked with an asterisk (*). There are over 70,000 km of waterways in the Republic of Ireland contained in 3,192 river water bodies including rivers, streams, and tributaries.[1] The major rivers have their length (in miles and kilometres) given. Also shown are two tables. Table 1 shows the longest rivers in Ireland with their lengths (in miles and kilometres), the counties they flow through, and their catchment areas (in km2 ). Table 2 shows the largest rivers in Ireland (by mean flow) in cubic meters per second.
Some of the larger or better known rivers of Ireland are shown on this map (large version ). Longest Irish Rivers (with Basin areas)[ edit ] 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
River
Counties
Length
Basin Area
1
River Shannon (including estuary and flow through lakes)a
Cavan , Leitrim , Roscommon , Longford , Westmeath , Galway , Offaly ,
Tipperary , Clare , Limerick , Kerry
360 km (224 mi)
16,800 km2 [2]
2
River Barrow b
Laois , Kildare , Kilkenny , Carlow ,
Wexford , Waterford
192 km (119 mi)
3,067 km2 [2]
3
River Suir b
Tipperary, Waterford, Kilkenny, Wexford
184 km (114.5 mi)
3,610 km2 [2]
4
River Blackwater (Munster)
Kerry, Cork , Waterford
168 km (104.5 mi)
3,324 km2 [2]
5
River Bann (including flow through L. Neagh)c
Down , Armagh , Antrim , Londonderry
159 km (99 mi)
5,808 km2 [3]
6
River Nore b
Tipperary, Laois, Kilkenny
140 km (87 mi)
2,530 km2 [2]
7
River Suck (Shannon)
Roscommon, Galway
133 km (83 mi)
1,600 km2 [4]
8
River Liffey
Wicklow , Kildare, Dublin
132 km (82 mi)
1,256 km2 [2]
9
River Erne
Cavan, Fermanagh , Donegal
129 km (80 mi)[5]
4,372 km2 [2]
10
River Foyle (including Rivers Mourne, Strule & Camowen)
Tyrone , Londonderry, Donegal
129 km (80 mi)
2,925 km2 [3]
11
River Slaney
Wicklow, Carlow, Wexford
117 km (73 mi)
1,762 km2 [2]
12
River Boyne
Kildare, Offaly, Meath , Louth
113 km (70 mi)
2,695 km2 [2]
13
River Moy
Sligo , Mayo
101 km (62.5 mi)
2,086 km2 [2]
14
River Clare (Corrib )d
Mayo, Roscommon, Galway
93 km (58 mi)
1,108 km2 [6]
15
River Blackwater (Ulster) (Bann) c
Tyrone, Monaghan , Armagh
92 km (57 mi)
1,507 km2 [3]
16t
River Inny (Shannon)
Cavan, Longford, Westmeath
89 km (55.5 mi)
1,254 km2 [4]
16t
River Lee
Cork
89 km (55.5 mi)
1,253 km2 [2]
18
River Lagan
Down, Antrim
86 km (53.5 mi)
565 km2 [3]
19
River Brosna (Shannon)
Westmeath, Offaly
79 km (49 mi)
1,248 km2 [4]
20
River Laune (includes Lough Leane and River Flesk )
Kerry
76 km (47.25 mi)
829 km2
21
River Feale (Shannon)
Cork, Limerick, Kerry
74 km (46 mi)
1,170 km2 [7]
22
River Bandon
Cork
72 km (45 mi)
608 km2 [2]
23
River Blackwater (Boyne)
Cavan, Meath
68 km (42.5 mi)
733 km2 [8]
24
River Annalee (Erne)
Monaghan, Cavan
66.8 km (41.75 mi)
522 km2 [8]
25
River Bride (M. Blackwater)
Cork, Waterford
64 km (40 mi)
419 km2
26
Boyle River (including Lung River) (Shannon)
Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon
64 km (40 mi)[9]
725 km2
27
River Deel (Shannon)
Cork, Limerick
63.2 km (39.5 mi)
481 km2 [8]
28
River Robe (Corrib)d
Mayo
62.8 km (39.25 mi)
320 km2
29
River Finn (County Donegal) (Foyle)
Donegal, Tyrone
62.8 km (39.25 mi)
505 km2 [8]
30
River Maigue (Shannon)
Cork, Limerick
62 km (38.75 mi)
1,000 km2
31
Fane River
Monaghan, Armagh, Louth
61.2 km (38.25 mi)
350 km2
32
Ballisodare River
Sligo
60.8 km (38 mi)
650 km2 [3]
33
River Dee (Louth)
Cavan, Meath, Louth
60.4 km (37.75 mi)
392 km2 [8]
34
River Fergus (Shannon)
Clare
58.4 km (36.5 mi)
1,043 km2
35
Little Brosna River (Shannon)
Offaly, Tipperary
57.6 km (36 mi)
662 km2
36
Mulkear River (including Bilboa River) (Shannon)
Tipperary, Limerick
55.9 km (34.75 mi)
650 km2
37
River Glyde (Co. Louth)
Cavan, Meath, Louth
55.9 km (34.75 mi)
348 km2
TABLE 1
a
The length of the River Shannon from the Shannon Pot to Limerick City is 258 kilometres (160 mi)[10] 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 kilometres (231 mi),[11] 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 kilometres (243.6 mi),[12] 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 102.2-kilometre (63.5 mi) tidal estuary from its total length of 360 kilometres (224 mi), if one also excludes the lakes (L. Derg 39 kilometres (24 mi), L. Ree 29 kilometres (18 mi), L. Allen 11 kilometres (7 mi)[13] plus L. Boderg , L. Bofin , L. Forbes , L. Corry ) from the Shannon's freshwater flow of 258.3 kilometres (160.5 mi), the Shannon as a freshwater river is only about 160 kilometres (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),[14] surpassed, in Ireland, only by the Shannon and Barrow rivers. This is the longest stream flow (source to sea) in Ulster .[15] d
Largest Irish Rivers (by flow)[ edit ] TABLE 2
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)[19] [22] 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 ).[23] The 102.5 m3 /s is based on the total basin area of 5808 km2 [3]
.
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 .
River Avoca Baelanabrack River 11 miles (18 km)[3]
Baleally Stream, County Dublin
River Ballinamallard* 16 miles (26 km)[3]
Ballinascorney Stream, County Dublin
Ballinderry River* 29 miles (47 km)[3]
Ballinglen River, County Mayo
Ballintotty River, County Tipperary
Ballintra River 14 miles (23 km)[3]
Ballisodare River 5.5 miles (8.9 km)[3]
Ballyboghil River , County Dublin , aka Ballyboughal
Ballycassidy*
Ballyfinboy River 20.75 miles (33.39 km)[3]
Ballymaice Stream, County Dublin
Ballymeeny River, County Sligo
Ballynahatty*
Ballynahinch River * 18.5 miles (29.8 km)[3]
Ballyogan Stream, County Dublin
Balsaggart Stream, County Dublin
Bandon 45 miles (72 km)[3]
River Bann (Wexford) 26 miles (42 km)[3]
Bann * 90 miles (140 km)[9] – longest river in Northern Ireland. Upper Bann flows into Lough Neagh and then continues north as the Lower Bann.River Bann Bannagh*
Barrow 119.5 miles (192.3 km)[3]
Bartramstown River, County Dublin
Belderg River, County Mayo
Bellanaminnaun River, County Mayo
Bellawaddy River, County Sligo
Bilboa River 19.5 miles (31.4 km)[3]
River Black 17.75 miles (28.57 km)[3] County Mayo
Blackbanks Stream, County Dublin
Blackditch Stream, County Dublin
Blackwater, Kerry
River Blackwater, Kildare and Meath 20 miles (32 km)[3]
River Blackwater, Cavan and Meath 42.5 miles (68.4 km)[3]
Blackwater, Munster 104.5 miles (168.2 km)[3]
River Blackwater (Ulster)* 56.7 miles (91.2 km)[3]
Bloody Stream, Howth, County Dublin
Boggeen Stream, County Dublin
Boherboy Stream, County Dublin
Boyle River (Total) 40 miles (64 km)[24]
River Boyne 70 miles (110 km)[3]
Bracken River, County Dublin
Bracken, Balbriggan
River Bradoge, County Dublin
Breedoge River 11.75 miles (18.91 km)[3]
River Bride 40 miles (64 km)[3] (Blackwater)
River Bride 21 miles (34 km)[3] (Lee)
Bride's Glen Stream, County Dublin
Bride's Stream, County Dublin
Broad Meadow River, County Dublin Munster Blackwater Cabragh River, County Sligo
River Callan* 26.5 miles (42.6 km)[3]
River Camac , County Dublin
River Camcor 16.25 miles (26.15 km)[3]
Camlin River 27 miles (43 km)[3]
Camlough*
River Camogue
Camowen River * 28 miles (45 km)[3]
Caragh River 14 miles (23 km)[3]
Carey *
Colin River*
Carn River, County Mayo
Carrickbrack Stream, County Dublin
Carrickmines River, County Dublin
River Clare (via Lough Corrib ) 57.75 miles (92.94 km)[3]
Carrowbeg 10 miles (16 km)[3]
Carryduff *
Carysfort-Maretimo Stream, County Dublin
Cashla River 13.25 miles (21.32 km)[3]
Castle Stream, County Dublin
Castletown River 28 miles (45 km)[3]
Cemetery Drain, County Dublin
River Cladagh * (including Arney) 22 miles (35 km)[3]
Clady River *
Clanrye *
Claremont Stream, County Dublin
River Clarin 19.75 miles (31.78 km)[3]
River Clodiagh 20.5 miles (33.0 km)[3]
Clodiagh River 24.25 miles (39.03 km)[3]
Cloghfin River 14 miles (23 km)[3]
Cloonaghmore River 19.75 miles (31.78 km)[3]
River Colligan 15 miles (24 km)[3]
Commons Water, County Dublin
Coolcour Brook, County Dublin
Corduff River, County Dublin River Corrib River Fane , County Louth 38.25 miles (61.56 km)[3]
Fairy Water 17.75 miles (28.57 km)[3]
Farset *
River Faughan * 29.5 miles (47.5 km)[3]
River Feale 46 miles (74 km)[3]
River Fergus 36.5 miles (58.7 km)[3]
Feorish River 19.5 miles (31.4 km)[3]
River Ferta , County Kerry
Fettercairn Stream, County Dublin
Fiddaun River, County Mayo
Figile River (Kildare) 20.75 miles (33.39 km)[3]
Finglas River, County Dublin
Finglaswood Stream, County Dublin
River Finisk 17.5 miles (28.2 km)[3]
River Finn (County Donegal) (Foyle) – rises and flows mainly through County Donegal , Republic of Ireland 39.25 miles (63.17 km)[3]
River Finn (Erne tributary) (Erne) 31.5 miles (50.7 km)[3]
Finned River, County Sligo
River Flesk 28.25 miles (45.46 km)[3]
Flurry River, County Louth *
Forrest Little Stream, County Dublin River Foyle River Galey 27 miles (43 km)[3]
Gallanstown Stream, County Dublin
Gallblack Stream, County Dublin
River Garavogue (including L. Gill and R. Bonnet) 31.5 miles (50.7 km)[3]
Gaybrook Stream, County Dublin
Glashaboy River 15 miles (24 km)[3]
Glashoreag River, County Kerry
Glasthule Stream, County Dublin
Glen *
Glenamoy River County Mayo 13.75 miles (22.13 km)[3]
Glenamuck Stream, County Dublin
Glenariff*
Glenaulin Stream, County Dublin
Glencullen River , County Dublin and County Wicklow
Glendergan*
Glenelly River * 22 miles (35 km)[3]
Glenglassera River, County Mayo
Glenmornan*
Glenulra River, County Mayo
River Glore 17 miles (27 km)[3]
River Glyde 34.75 miles (55.92 km)[3]
Golf Stream , County Dublin
River Goul 23.25 miles (37.42 km)[3]
Grange Stream, County Dublin
Grange River (Corrib) 17 miles (27 km)[3]
River Greese 22 miles (35 km)[3]
Griffeen River, County Dublin
Grillagh River
River Gweebarra 19.75 miles (31.78 km)[3]
Gweestin River 13.75 miles (22.13 km)[3]
Gweestion River (Moy) 23 miles (37 km)[3] River Lagan River Nore River Suck St. Laurence's Stream, County Dublin
St. Margaret's Stream, County Dublin
Santa Sabina Stream, County Dublin
Santry River , County Dublin
Scribblestown Stream, County Dublin
Shallon Stream, County Dublin
Shanganagh River, County Dublin
River Shannon 224 miles (360 km)[10] – longest river on the island. Develops into Lough Allen , Lough Bofin , Lough Ree and Lough Derg along its course.
Shanow River 15.25 miles (24.54 km)[3]
Shimna *
River Shiven 21.25 miles (34.20 km)[3]
Shournagh River 17 miles (27 km)[3]
Sillees River * 33 miles (53 km)[3]
Silver River 24 miles (39 km)[3]
Six Mile Water * 21 miles (34 km)[3]
Slade Brook , County Dublin
River Slaney , County Wicklow , County Carlow and County Wexford 73 miles (117 km)[3]
Slang River , County Dublin
River Slate 17 miles (27 km)[3]
Sluice River, County Dublin
Smerlagh (Smaorlagh) River 15.5 miles (24.9 km)[3]
Sruh Croppa*
Stein River, County Dublin
Stonestown River 20 miles (32 km)[3]
Stoneyford
River Strule * 14.25 miles (22.93 km)[3]
River Suck 82.5 miles (132.8 km)[3]
River Suir 114.75 miles (184.67 km)[3]
River Sullane 22.5 miles (36.2 km)[3]
Swan River, County Dublin
River Swanlinbar 18 miles (29 km)[3] (also known as Cladagh)*
River Swilly 25.5 miles (41.0 km)[3] River Tolka Yellow River 17.25 miles (27.76 km)[3]
^ EPA Water Quality in Ireland 2010–2015 , Section 2.1, page 10. Environmental Protection Agency, 2017. ISBN 978-1-84095-735-8 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab Mac Cárthaigh, Micheál (January 2011), Comprehensive study of Riverine Inputs: Details of hydrometric stations, sampling stations: Table 2 (PDF) , Dublin: Irish Environmental Agency, p. 17, archived from the original (PDF) on 28 February 2021
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg eh ei ej ek el em en eo ep eq er es et eu ev ew ex ey ez fa fb fc fd fe ff fg fh fi fj fk fl fm fn fo fp fq fr fs ft fu fv fw fx fy fz ga gb gc gd ge gf gg gh gi gj gk gl gm gn go gp gq gr gs gt gu Ordnance Survey of Ireland : Rivers and their Catchment Basins 1958 (Table of Reference)
^ a b c Dublin Marine Institute 1998 : Studies of Irish Rivers and Lakes: Moriarty, Christopher
^ a b Notes on River Basins: Page 67
^ Western CFRAM Units of Management
^ Biology and Management of European Eel p.29
^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Irish Hydro Power Association" . Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014 .
^ a b Notes on River Basins: Page 69
^ a b Ordnance Survey (Ireland) Educational Facts
^ Shannon River Basin: Furthest sourceShannon River Basin#Furthest sources [circular reference ]
^ Boyle River (Ireland) [circular reference ]
^ Ask about Ireland
^ Ulster BlackwaterRiver Blackwater, Northern Ireland [circular reference ]
^ a b European Commission Rivers Map
^ River Robe [circular reference ]
^ "203040 – Lower Bann at Movanagher" . National River Flow Archive (NRFA) .
^ "SMILE – Sustainable Mariculture in northern Irish Lough Ecosystems" . Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2014 .
^ a b c d Long-term effects of hydropower installations and associated river regulation on River Shannon eel populations: mitigation and management [1]
^ a b c d e f g h Royal Irish Academy, Atlas of Ireland (Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, 1979) Hydrology P. 23 – Rivers: Mean Discharge
^ "OPW" . Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015 .
^ "SFPC Maintenance Dredging Application: Table 3-7" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014 .
^ "Search Data" .
^ Notes on River Basins: Page 64
^ Notes on River Basins: Page 68
Sovereign states States with limited recognition Dependencies and other entities