River Finn (Foyle tributary)

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River Finn
The River Finn - geograph.org.uk - 483019.jpg
River Finn
River Finn (Foyle tributary)
EtymologyIrish finn, "fair/clear"
Native nameAn Fhinn (Irish)
Location
Jurisdictions Republic of Ireland & Northern Ireland
Counties Donegal, Tyrone
Physical characteristics
Source 
  location Lough Finn, County Donegal
Mouth  
  location
North Channel via Lough Foyle
Length63.17 km (39.25 mi)
Basin size505 km2 (195 sq mi)
Discharge 
  average8.253 m3/s (291.5 cu ft/s)
Basin features
River system Foyle

The River Finn (Irish : Abhainn na Finne [1] ) is a river in the west of Ulster, the northern province in Ireland. The river mainly flows through County Donegal, part of the Republic of Ireland, while a short stretch of the river also partially flows through County Tyrone, part of Northern Ireland. From Lough Finn, the river goes to Ballybofey and Stranorlar before joining the River Mourne at Lifford and Strabane.

Contents

The Monellan Burn, also known as the Creamery Burn, flows into the River Finn very near a hamlet called The Cross, not far from the former site of Monellan Castle, just outside Killygordon. [2] From Castlefin downstream, the river is tidal, becoming deeper towards Strabane. [3] The Finn is 40 miles (64 km) long and together with its tributary the Reelin River, drains a catchment area of 195 square miles. [4] The River Foyle is formed by the confluence of the River Mourne and the River Finn, west of Lifford Bridge. [5] The area which the River Finn flows through is called the Finn Valley. The village of Clady, near Strabane in County Tyrone, is on the River Finn. The football club in Ballybofey, Finn Harps, is named after the river. [6]

Angling

The upper reaches of the Reelin and the Finn are fast downstream to Ballybofey and can give excellent fishing. From Ballybofey downstream the river becomes deeper and slower. In all there is more than 25 miles (40 km) of salmon fishing on the river from Flushtown right up to Bellanmore Bridge and part of the Reelan too. There is good sea trout fishing at Liscooley and Killygordan and from Ballybofey to Bellanamore Bridge. The Finn and its tributary the Reelan are probably the most prolific salmon and grilse rivers in Donegal and indeed throughout the Foyle catchment. [4] Fish species such as roach, perch, eels and brown trout are caught in the Finn system. [3]

Area of special scientific interest

The River Foyle and tributaries Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) include the River Foyle and its tributaries i.e. that part of the River Finn which is within Northern Ireland, the River Mourne and its tributary the River Strule (up to its confluence with the Owenkillew River) and the River Derg, along with two of its sub-tributaries, the Mourne Beg River and the Glendergan River. The area encompasses 120 km of watercourse and is notable for the physical diversity and naturalness of the banks and channels, especially in the upper reaches, and the richness and naturalness of its plant and animal communities. Of particular importance is the population of Atlantic Salmon, which is one of the largest in Europe. Research has indicated that each sub-catchment within the system supports genetically distinct populations. [7]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lifford</span> County town of Donegal, Ireland

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Foyle</span> River in the northwest of the island of Ireland

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">N14 road (Ireland)</span> Road in Ireland

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">N15 road (Ireland)</span> Road in Ireland

The N15 road is a national primary road in the north-west of Ireland. It runs from Sligo to Lifford, County Donegal. It forms part of the proposed Atlantic Corridor route. It also goes to the border with Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballybofey</span> Town in County Donegal, Ireland

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castlefin</span> Town in County Donegal, Ireland

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lifford Bridge</span>

Lifford Bridge is a cross-border bridge on the A38 connecting with the N15, spanning the River Foyle which marks the border between Strabane in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, and Lifford in County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. It remains a vital part of the trans-border route from the North, West and East of County Donegal, to Dublin via County Tyrone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cloghan, County Donegal</span> Village in County Donegal, Ireland

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Mourne</span> River in Northern Ireland

The River Mourne is a river in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, and is a tributary of the River Foyle It is formed at the meetings of the River Derg and River Strule below Ardstraw. At Strabane it joins with the River Finn to form the River Foyle. Fishing is largely for salmon, grilse and sea trout. Other species such as Common Roach, Common Minnow, Northern Pike, European Eel, Perch and Sticklebacks can also be found in different stretches of the River on occasion.

The Finn Valley Post was a free local newspaper in County Donegal, Ireland, based in the town of Ballybofey. The paper was first published on 18 July 2007 by the River Media group, which produced other local titles such as the Donegal Post and Letterkenny Post. The newspaper covers much of east and central County Donegal, including Ballybofey, Stranorlar, Raphoe and Lifford. Its name derives from the River Finn which flows through the area.

The Finn Valley Voice is a local newspaper published in the Finn Valley region of County Donegal in Ireland. Founded in 1994, it is based in Ballybofey. It is independently owned, and claims to be the only newspaper in Ireland owned and managed entirely by women. The newspaper is one of two to be based in Ballybofey, competing with the Finn Valley Post, and covers several other urban areas such as Stranorlar, Lifford, Castlefin and Fintown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reelin River</span> River in County Donegal, Ireland

The Reelin River is a river which flows through Cloghan and Commeen in County Donegal, Ireland. It is a tributary to the River Finn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porthall</span> Village in County Donegal, Ireland

Porthall is a village and townland in County Donegal, Ireland. The village is located on the west bank of the River Foyle, in The Laggan district of East Donegal, on the R265 road. The nearest town is Lifford, the county town.

Monellan Castle was a large castellated mansion on the southern outskirts of The Cross, a hamlet just outside Killygordon in the east of County Donegal in Ulster, the northern province in Ireland. It was constructed in the eighteenth century for the Delap family, an Ulster-Scots family who acquired the estate in the late eighteenth century. The family also owned estates in Buckinghamshire in England. The Monellan Burn, also known as the Creamery Burn, runs along the western and north-western edge of the former demesne surrounding Monellan Castle, flowing into the River Finn very near The Cross. The burn separated the Monellan Castle Demesne from the adjacent townland of Ballynaman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killygordon</span> Village in County Donegal, Ireland

Killygordon is a small village in the Finn Valley in the east of County Donegal, Ireland. As of 2022, the population was 716. It is located on the N15 between Stranorlar and Castlefin. The separate hamlet and townland of Crossroads, usually known as The Cross, lies half a mile from Killygordon. The River Finn passes by the village on its way towards its confluence with the River Mourne and the River Foyle.

The Finn Valley Railway (FVR) was a 5 ft 3 in gauge railway in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A38 road (Northern Ireland)</span> Road in Northern Ireland

The A38 links Strabane, County Tyrone and the A5 through the meadows of the river Foyle and over Lifford Bridge to Lifford, the County Town of County Donegal, where it links into the N14 and the N15. The N15 continues into County Donegal to Stranorlar, Ballybofey, Donegal Town, Ballyshannon, Bundoran and then leaves County Donegal, before heading to Sligo. The N14 continues through Rossgeir and Drumbeg to Letterkenny, connecting to the N13, which makes its way to Buncrana, Inishowen and Derry.

The Battle of Lifford was fought in County Donegal in October 1600, during the Nine Years' War in Ireland. A mixed Anglo-Irish force under Sir John Bolle and the Gaelic leaders Niall Garve O'Donnell and Sir Arthur O'Neill captured the strategic town of Lifford. A subsequent attempt to recapture it by forces led by Red Hugh O'Donnell failed.

References

  1. "An Fhinn". logainm.ie. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  2. Ballybofey, Stranorlar and District Historical Society: Monellan Castle. https://www.finnvalleyhistory.com/monellan-castle/ Archived 22 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine
  3. 1 2 "The River Finn". Strabane Lifford Angling Development Association. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
  4. 1 2 "River Finn". Discover Ireland. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
  5. "The Foyle". Strabane Lifford Angling Development Association. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
  6. "Office of Public Works: Station Search". Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  7. "Area of Special Scientific Interest - River Foyle and Tributaries". Northern Ireland Environment Agency. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2009.

54°48′04″N7°44′45″W / 54.80111°N 7.74583°W / 54.80111; -7.74583