# River Erne > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/River_Erne > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/River_Erne.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Erne > Source revision: 1277613787 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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](/source/Ballyshannon) | native_name = {{native name|ga|An Éirne}} | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 7 | source1_location = Slieve Glah, [County Cavan](/source/County_Cavan), [Ireland](/source/Republic_of_Ireland) | mouth_location = [Donegal Bay](/source/Donegal_Bay) at [Ballyshannon](/source/Ballyshannon), [County Donegal](/source/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](/source/Republic_of_Ireland), [Northern Ireland](/source/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](/source/Arney_River), [Sillees River](/source/Sillees_River) | tributaries_right = [River Annalee](/source/River_Annalee), [River Finn (Erne tributary)](/source/River_Finn_(Erne_tributary)), [Colebrooke River](/source/Colebrooke_River), [Ballycassidy River](/source/Ballycassidy_River), [Kesh River](/source/Kesh_River), [Brannagh River](/source/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](/source/Ireland), is the second-longest river in [Ulster](/source/Ulster), flowing through [Northern Ireland](/source/Northern_Ireland) and the [Republic of Ireland](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Lough_Gowna), [Lough Oughter](/source/Lough_Oughter) and Upper and Lower [Lough Erne](/source/Lough_Erne), [County Fermanagh](/source/County_Fermanagh), Northern Ireland, to the sea at [Ballyshannon](/source/Ballyshannon), [County Donegal](/source/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](/source/river) is 120 kilometres long and is used for [fly fishing](/source/fly_fishing) for [trout](/source/trout) and [salmon](/source/salmon), with a number of [fisheries](/source/fisheries) along both the river itself and its tributaries. The town of [Enniskillen](/source/Enniskillen) is mostly situated on an island in the river, between Upper and Lower Lough Erne. It is linked to the [River Shannon](/source/River_Shannon) by the [Shannon–Erne Waterway](/source/Shannon%E2%80%93Erne_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== {{main|Lough Erne#Name, mythology and folklore}} The river takes its name from a [mythical](/source/Irish_mythology) princess named ''Éirne''. thumb ==Pleasure boating== Live-aboard pleasure cruisers operate from several locations along the Erne waterway, including Belturbet, Knockniny, Carrybridge, Bellanaleck, [Enniskillen](/source/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](/source/trolling_(fishing)), 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](/source/Crom_Estate), on the North bank of the Upper Erne channel, [Gad Island](/source/Gad_Island), near Crom Estate, [Devenish Island](/source/Devenish_Island), [Inismacsaint Island](/source/Inismacsaint_Island), [Davy’s Island](/source/Davy%E2%80%99s_Island), [White Island](/source/White_Island%2C_County_Fermanagh), and [Boa Island](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Irish_language) [ballad](/source/ballad) about a young boy from the Erne area. It has been recorded by such groups as [Clannad](/source/Clannad) and [The Corrs](/source/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](/source/Mair%C3%A9ad_N%C3%AD_Mhaonaigh) of [Altan](/source/Altan_(band)), [Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill](/source/Maighread_N%C3%AD_Dhomhnaill), and [Moya Brennan](/source/Moya_Brennan).{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} ==Former railway lines== [[File:Belturbet, old railway bridge.jpg|thumb|A remnant of the [GNR](/source/Great_Northern_Railway_(Ireland)) being a viaduct spanning the river near [Belturbet railway station](/source/Belturbet_railway_station).]] A number of places were once accessible by train along the River Erne, with the once extensive [Great Northern Railway](/source/Great_Northern_Railway_(Ireland)) and the [Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway](/source/Sligo%2C_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:Ballyshannon Category:Rivers of County Cavan Category:Rivers of County Donegal Category:Rivers of County Fermanagh Category:International rivers of Europe --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [River Erne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Erne) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Erne?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.