| River Barrow | |
| Name Etymology: | Proto-Celtic *boru- ("boil", "bubble") |
| Map: | Nore River Map.jpg |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Ireland |
| Subdivision Type4: | Counties |
| Subdivision Name4: | Laois, Kildare, Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford, Waterford |
| Length: | 192km (119miles) |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 37.4m3/s (See text) |
| Source1: | Slieve Bloom Mountains |
| Source1 Location: | Glenbarrow, Laois |
| Source1 Elevation: | 350m (1,150feet) |
| Mouth: | Celtic Sea |
| Mouth Location: | Waterford Harbour, Waterford |
| River System: | Three Sisters |
| Basin Size: | 3067km2 (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 |
The Barrow (Irish: An Bhearú) 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 km (120 mi), the second-longest river in Ireland, behind the River Shannon. The catchment area of the River Barrow is 3,067 km2 before the River Nore joins it a little over 20 km before its mouth.[1] The river's long term average flow rate, again before it is joined by River Nore, is 37.4 cubic metres per second.[1] At the merger with the River Suir, its catchment area is ca. 5,500 km2 and its discharge over 80 m3/s.
The source of the River Barrow is at Glenbarrow in the Slieve Bloom Mountains in County Laois.
Among the towns that the River Barrow passes through on its way to the sea beyond 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.
The Irish hydronym Bhearú 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.[2] Variant spellings include Berbae (gen. ca. 800/830), Barowe (1522), and Barragh (1641).[3] 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.[4] [5]
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.[6]
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.[7]
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.
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".[8]
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:
Parts of the Barrow attract kayakers and swimmers, primarily in the summer months.[9] The Barrow Way is a 120 kilometre long-distance walk along the Barrow, 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.