Irish: An Bhearu
Rising in the Slieve Bloom mountain range in the centre of Ireland and
flowing for about 120 miles (190 km) to Waterford harbour in the southeast, where it joins
the Rivers Nore and Suir. From its upper mountain
course in counties Laois and Offaly, it
flows east across bogs and lowlands and then turns south into the lowland immediately
east of the Castlecomer (Kilkenny) Plateau. In the last 15 miles (25 km) before the confluence with
the Nore, it flows through a steep, wooded gorge, which gives way to a wider lowland
near New Ross. Market towns along the river include Athy (town in Kildare), Carlow, and Graiguenamanagh.
The Rivers Nore, Suir and Barrow are known as The Three Sisters. |
