River Cladagh (Swanlinbar)

This article is about the river which flows from County Cavan, Republic of Ireland into Upper Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. For the County Fermanagh river which flows from Marble Arch Caves to the Arney River, see River Cladagh.

The Cladagh River (Irish: An Chlaideach or "washing river"^[1]), Claddagh or Swanlinbar River, is a moderately large river which forms from a number of small streams rising in Commas townland on the south-eastern slopes of Cuilcagh Mountain, County Cavan, and flows through the village of Swanlinbar, before crossing the border into County Fermanagh and eventually flowing into Upper Lough Erne. It is ultra-oligotrophic upstream before gradually becoming oligotrophic and oligo-mesotrophic through its middle and lower reaches.^[2]

Cladagh River Swanlinbar River
Native name	An Chlaideach (Irish)
Location
Country	Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom
Province	Ulster
Region	Northern Ireland
Counties	County Cavan, County Fermanagh
Village	Swanlinbar
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Cuilcagh Mountain, County Cavan
Source confluence
• location	H143 259 Irish Grid
• coordinates	54°10′54.90″N 7°46′54.23″W
• elevation	265 m (869 ft)
Mouth
• location	Upper Lough Erne, County Fermanagh

Environment

The river is a designated Special Area of Conservation.^[2] The vegetation includes Ranunculetum fluitantis, Callitriche and Ranunculus peltatus. The river contains one of the largest surviving populations in Northern Ireland of the freshwater pearl mussel. The mussels, estimated to be a minimum of 10,000 in number, are confined to a 6 km (3.7 mi) stretch of undisturbed river in the middle section.^[2]

See also

• Rivers of Ireland
• List of rivers of Ireland