{{Short description|Second-longest river in Ireland, one of the Three Sisters}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox river | name = River Barrow | native_name = {{native name|ga|An Bhearú}} | name_other = | name_etymology = Proto-Celtic *''boru-'' ("boil", "bubble") <!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP --> | image = BarrowBagnel.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = River Barrow at Bagenalstown, County Carlow | map = Nore River Map.jpg | map_size = | map_caption = River Barrow and nearby geography | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption= <!---------------------- LOCATION --> | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = Ireland | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = Counties | subdivision_name4 = Laois, Kildare, Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford, Waterford | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 = <!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS --> | length = {{convert|192|km|mi|abbr=on}} | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = {{convert|37.4|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<br/>(See text) | discharge1_max = <!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES --> | source1 = Slieve Bloom Mountains | source1_location = Glenbarrow, County Laois | source1_coordinates= | source1_elevation = {{convert|350|m|abbr=on}} | mouth = Celtic Sea | mouth_location = Waterford Harbour | mouth_coordinates = | mouth_elevation = | progression = | river_system = Three Sisters | basin_size = {{convert|3067|km2|abbr=on}}<br/>(See text) | tributaries_left = Figile River, Finnery River, River Greese, Lerr River, Burren River, Mountain River, Pollmounty River | tributaries_right = Owenass River, Madlin River, Ballyvalden River, Gowran River, River Nore, River Suir | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }} [[File:River Barrow with swans at Carlow, 2021-07-03, 02.jpg|thumb|Mute swans on the River Barrow at Carlow]]

The '''Barrow''' ({{langx|ga|An Bhearú}})<ref name="logainm"/> is a river in Ireland. It is one of The Three Sisters, the other two being the River Suir and the River Nore. The Barrow is the longest of the three rivers and, at 192&nbsp;km (120&nbsp;mi), the second-longest river in Ireland, behind the River Shannon. The catchment area of the Barrow is 3,067&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> before the River Nore joins it a little over 20&nbsp;km before its mouth.<ref name="auto">[http://www.serbd.com/MultiDownloads/Creport/Chapters/Physical%20Description%20Ch3.pdf South Eastern River Basin District Management System. Page 38] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222354/http://www.serbd.com/MultiDownloads/Creport/Chapters/Physical%20Description%20Ch3.pdf |date=2016-03-03 }}</ref> The river's long term average flow rate, again before it is joined by River Nore, is 37.4 cubic metres per second.<ref name="auto"/> At the merger with the River Nore, its catchment area is ca. 5,500&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> and its discharge over 80&nbsp;m<sup>3</sup>/s.

==Course== The source of the Barrow is at Glenbarrow in the Slieve Bloom Mountains in County Laois.

Some towns that the Barrow passes through before Waterford are Portarlington, Monasterevin, Athy, Carlow/Graiguecullen, Bagenalstown, Goresbridge, Graiguenamanagh and New Ross.

The river forms a natural border between, on its right bank, counties Kilkenny and Waterford and, on its left bank, counties Carlow and Wexford.

==Name== The Irish hydronym ''Bearú'' has been derived from the Proto-Celtic *''boru-'' ("boil, brew"), which would make it cognate with ''Borvo'', the Celtic god of minerals and spring water.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Monnier|first=Nolwena|date=2019|title=Nommer la nature : toponymie de la nature dans la Topographia Hibernica de Gerald of Wales|journal=Études irlandaises|issue=44–1|pages=31–46|doi=10.4000/etudesirlandaises.6884|issn=0183-973X|doi-access=free}}</ref> Variant spellings include ''Berbae'' (<small>gen.</small> ca. 800/830), ''Barowe'' (1522), and ''Barragh'' (1641).<ref name="logainm">{{cite web|url=https://www.logainm.ie/116552.aspx|title=An Bhearú/River Barrow|publisher=Irish Placenames Database|website=logainm.ie|access-date=9 December 2020|archive-date=24 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924153842/https://www.logainm.ie/ga/116552|url-status=live}}</ref> Ptolemy's ''Geography'' (2nd century AD) described a river called Βιργος (''Birgu''), which could be linked to the Proto-Indo-European *''bʰergʰ''- "to hide, to protect," referring to Waterford Harbour as a place of refuge.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ireland|url=http://www.romaneranames.uk/essays/ireland.pdf|access-date=2019-05-04|website=romaneranames.uk|archive-date=2 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402180652/http://www.romaneranames.uk/essays/ireland.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Freeman|first=Philip|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZqJFEvXCJJwC&q=Birgu+waterford&pg=PA78|title=War, Women, and Druids: Eyewitness Reports and Early Accounts of the Ancient Celts|date=28 June 2010|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=9780292789135|via=Google Books|access-date=3 October 2020|archive-date=24 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924153811/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZqJFEvXCJJwC&q=Birgu+waterford&pg=PA78|url-status=live}}</ref>

The river's name is associated to the legendary deeds of Dian Cecht, who slew three serpents found in the heart of The Morrígan's infant son and threw them into the Barrow, thus causing it to boil.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.academia.edu/10246879|title=Indo-European Dragon-Slayers and Healers, and the Irish Account of Dian Cécht and Méiche|first=John|last=Shaw|access-date=17 May 2016|archive-date=24 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924153813/https://www.academia.edu/10246879|url-status=live}}</ref>

:: ''Sloighedh la Domhnall ua Néill co Laighnibh co ros-indir o ''Bherbha'' siar go fairrge, & do-bert bóromha mhór lais, & do-rad forbhais for Ghallaibh, & for Laighnibh co cenn da mhíos. As don chur-sin torchair Fionn, mac Goirmghiolla, Dunghal mac Dúnghaile I Riagáin, & Ronán, mac Bruadair, mic Duibhgiolla, & aroile saor-chlanna do Laighnibh amaille friu.''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G100005B/|title=Annals of the Four Masters|website=ucc.ie|access-date=11 December 2014|archive-date=21 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121195537/http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G100005B/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Translation: ::''An army was led by Domnall ua Néill into Leinster; and he plundered from the '''Berbha''' eastwards to the sea; and he carried off a great prey of cattle; and he laid siege to the Norsemen and the Leinstermen for two months. On this occasion were slain Fionn, son of Goirmghilla; Dunghal, son of Dunghal Ua Riagain; Ronan, son of Bruadar, son of Duibhghilla, and other nobles of the Leinstermen along with them.''

== History == The Barrow historically provided a natural boundary between the kingdoms of Laigin on the eastern shore and Osraige on the western shore.

There was a proverb quoted by Sir John Davies that "whoso lives by west of the Barrow, lives west of the law".<ref>{{cite book | last = Falkiner | first = Caesar Litton | title = Illustrations of Irish history and topography, mainly of the seventeenth century | url = https://archive.org/stream/illustrationsir00jouvgoog#page/n145/mode/2up | year = 1904 | publisher = Longmans, Green, & Co | location = London | page = 117 | isbn = 1-144-76601-X }} </ref>

==Barrow navigation== The River Barrow forms a major part of Ireland's inland waterways network, providing an inland link between the port of Waterford and the Grand Canal, which in turn connects Dublin to the River Shannon. There are three sections to the navigation: *The tidal River Barrow, which together with the tidal reaches of its tributaries, the Suir and the Nore, constitute {{cvt|88|km|0}} of tidal river navigation. *The non-tidal river navigation featuring 23 locks, continuing 66&nbsp;km (41 miles) inland from the tidal limit of the Barrow at St Mullin's to Athy. *The Barrow Line of the Grand Canal connects to the river at Athy and continues northwards a further {{cvt|45|km|0}} with 9 locks, connecting to the mainline of the Grand Canal at Lowtown, and so to Dublin.

==Recreation== Parts of the Barrow attract kayakers and swimmers, primarily in the summer months.<ref name="flow">{{Cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/ireland/going-with-the-flow-on-the-river-barrow-could-this-really-be-just-15-hours-from-dublin-37092107.html |title=Going with the flow on the River Barrow: Could this really be just 1.5 hours from Dublin? |last=Ball |first=Jamie |date=8 July 2018 |website=Irish Independent|access-date=31 January 2020 |archive-date=1 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001083755/https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/ireland/going-with-the-flow-on-the-river-barrow-could-this-really-be-just-15-hours-from-dublin-37092107.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The Barrow Way is a 120 kilometre long-distance walk along the river, one of Ireland's National Waymarked Trails. The trail follows the Barrow Line, and then along the towpaths along the non-tidal part of the river, ending in St. Mullins.

==See also== * Rivers of Ireland * List of rivers of Ireland * The Three Sisters

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20140716221532/http://barrowvalley.net/ Barrow Valley Guide website]}} * [http://riverbarrow.net River Barrow website] * [http://www.iwai.ie/nav/barrow.html IWAI – The Barrow Navigation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040402062810/http://www.iwai.ie/nav/barrow.html |date=2 April 2004 }} *[http://www.irishwhitewater.com/river_guide/river.php?id=390 Barrow River Guide]

{{County Kildare}} {{Rivers of Ireland}} {{Authority control}}

{{Coord|52|14|N|6|58|W|display=title|region:IE_type:river_source:GNS-enwiki}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barrow}} Category:Rivers of County Carlow Category:Rivers of County Kildare Category:Rivers of County Laois Category:Rivers of County Waterford Category:Rivers of County Wexford