Finn River (County Fermanagh And County Monaghan)

The Finn River (Irish: ''An Fhinn'' or ''Abhainn na Finne''), also known as the River Finn, is a small river that flows through parts of County Fermanagh and parts of County Monaghan in the south of Ulster, the northern province in Ireland.Monaghan Tourism: Coarse Fishing - Clones. https://www.monaghantourism.com/listing/coarse-fishing-clones''Discoverer Series'' Sheet 27 (F Edition). Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland (O.S.N.I.), Land and Property Services, Belfast, 2019.''Discovery Series'' Sheet 28A (3rd Edition). Ordnance Survey of Ireland (O.S.I.), Dublin, 2012. In certain places, the river forms part of the boundary between County Fermanagh, which is part of Northern Ireland, and County Monaghan, which is part of the Republic of Ireland. Two very short stretches of the river, just north of Redhills and at Castle Saunderson, near Belturbet, also form part of the boundary between County Fermanagh and County Cavan (part of the Republic of Ireland). This means that some stretches of the river form part of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, these short stretches also forming part of the external border of the European Union.

Some stretches of the river flow entirely within County Fermanagh, while other stretches flow entirely within County Monaghan. The river eventually flows into Upper Lough Erne, entering the lough very near Castle Saunderson. The Finn River should not be confused with the better known and much longer River Finn, which mainly flows through County Donegal in the west of Ulster.

Course

The Finn River rises on the slopes of Knoppane, a hill just to the south of Slieve Beagh in the south-east of County Fermanagh. Knoppane is located a few miles north-west of Roslea, a village also in south-east Fermanagh. The Finn initially flows in a mainly easterly direction from its source, flowing through the Fermanagh townland of Cornacrieve, flowing past Derrygannon Community Hall, and flowing on to the east as far as the townland of Derryvollan (also spelled as Derryvullan).'Community spirit still evident at Derrygannon, 100 years later' (''The Impartial Reporter'', 23 February 2012). https://www.impartialreporter.com/news/13857485.community-spirit-still-evident-at-derrygannon-100-years-later/?ref=waDerrygannon Townland, Co. Fermanagh. https://www.townlands.ie/clankelly/clones-clankelly-portion/rosslea/derrygannon/ The river flows around the edges of Derryvollan, separating that Fermanagh townland from Cornaguillagh, Cornacreeve and Corrinshingo (also spelled as Corrinshigo), three townlands in the north-west of County Monaghan.

The Finn meanders around the eastern edge of Derryvollan, flowing under Derryvollan Bridge.Border Roads to Memories and Reconciliation: Flynn's (Derryvollan, Corrinshigo). http://www.borderroadmemories.com/search-border-crossings/individual-crossing/?id=bc103 From here on, the river flows in a mainly southerly direction. It meanders around both Rough Hill and Gola, two neighbouring townlands in the north-west of County Monaghan that are a short distance north-east of Roslea.

The river then flows back into Fermanagh, skirting around the north-western, western and southern edges of Roslea and along the western edge of Spring Grove Forest,Parks & Gardens: Spring Grove. https://www.parksandgardens.org/places/spring-grove crossing back into County Monaghan beside New Bridge. At a place between New Bridge and Aghafin House, the river meanders around a sharp bend, flowing in a south-easterly direction for almost two miles, entirely within County Monaghan, between the townland of Aghafin, just north-east of Clones, and the townland of Nook, just south-east of Stonebridge. Thereafter, the river mainly flows in a south-westerly direction, all the way to its mouth on Upper Lough Erne.

The river flows through Stonebridge, a hamlet in West Monaghan. It flows along the western edge of Conaghy, a townland south-east of Stonebridge, flowing near the probable site of Conaghy Castle, a former stronghold of the ''Mac Mathghamhna'' (MacMahon) dynasty.Dúchas.ie: The Schools Collection - ''An Ghráinseach'' (Gransha), County Monaghan. https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4723854/4719305/4759307CommunityWalk: McMahon of Monaghan Sites. https://www.communitywalk.com/monaghan/ireland/mcmahon_sites/map/1675787McMahons of Monaghan: Chapter 10 - Remnants on the Landscape: Castles. https://www.mcmahonsofmonaghan.org/castles.html'Monument No.: MO-012046; Townland: Conaghy; Description: Castle Site Possible', in 'Record of Monuments and Places (R.M.P.) in Monaghan County Council Area', Appendix 6, ''Monaghan County Development Plan, 2007-2013'', p. 421. Monaghan County Council, Monaghan Town, 2007.Conaghy Townland, Co. Monaghan. https://www.townlands.ie/monaghan/dartree/killeevan/killeevan/conaghy/ The Finn then flows on through Analore, another hamlet in West Monaghan, flowing quite close to Ballynure House, a now ruined Late Georgian former residence just outside Analore. N.I.A.H.: Ballynure House, Ballynure, Monaghan. https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/41401248/ballynure-house-ballynure-monaghanKevin V. Mulligan, ''The Buildings of Ireland: South Ulster'' (better known as the '' Pevsner Guide to South Ulster''), p. 372. Yale University Press, London, 2013.Ballynure Townland, Co. Monaghan. https://www.townlands.ie/monaghan/dartree/killeevan/killeevan/ballynure/ The river flows to the south of Clones, the main town in West Monaghan. It then flows just to the north and north-west of the Hilton Demesne, near the village of Scotshouse, also in West Monaghan. This south-western stretch of the river, near the Hilton Demesne, forms another part of the boundary between County Fermanagh and County Monaghan, this stretch separating south-east Fermanagh from West Monaghan.

The Finn flows on through Wattlebridge, a hamlet in the south-east of County Fermanagh, then enters Upper Lough Erne nearby. The river enters the lough directly opposite Derrykerrib (Irish: ''Doire Choirb'' or ''Doire Ceirbe''), a townland in south-east Fermanagh that was formerly an island,Derrykerrib Townland, Co. Fermanagh. https://www.townlands.ie/fermanagh/coole/drummully/derrysteaton/derrykerrib/ almost 5.3 miles (around 8.5 kilometres) south-west from Clones. The river flows into a narrow channel of the lough at this place, where the townland of Edergool (Irish: ''Eadarghabhail'', meaning 'Between Forking Streams' or 'Between (Stream) Forks'Placenamesni.org: Edergool, County Fermanagh. http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=19931Edergool Townland, Co. Fermanagh. https://www.townlands.ie/fermanagh/coole/drummully/derrysteaton/edergool/) in County Fermanagh meets the townland of Castlesaunderson Demesne, where Castle Saunderson is located, in County Cavan. Thus, half of the river's mouth is in County Fermanagh, while the other half is in County Cavan.

The river's mouth, which is at the edge of the Castle Saunderson Demesne, is also very near the Lanesborough Demesne, a former demesne in the townland of Quivvy on the County Cavan shore of Upper Lough Erne.Brian Cassells, ''The Ulster Canal'', pp. 87-88. Cottage Publications, Donaghadee, County Down, 2015. The Lanesborough Demesne, near Belturbet, is directly opposite the north-western shore of Derrykerrib. Traditionally, the Finn River was considered navigable for most of the year by certain types of river boat, from its mouth upstream as far as Cumber Bridge in Coolnalong (Irish: ''Cúil na Long''), a townland located between Scotshouse and Clones. N.I.A.H.: Cumber Bridge, Coolnalong / Lisabuck, Monaghan. https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/41401608/cumber-bridge-coolnalong-lisabuck-monaghan The river meanders significantly throughout most of its course.

Drummully ('the Sixteen Townlands')

The south-western part of the Finn River cuts Drummully off from the rest of County Monaghan. Drummully, also known as 'the Sixteen Townlands' or 'Coleman's Island', is a small district that is a pene-enclave of County Monaghan (part of the Republic of Ireland) almost entirely surrounded by County Fermanagh (part of Northern Ireland). Only a tiny stretch of the Finn River flows through Drummully, the river flowing along the southern edge of Annaghraw, a townland in the far south of the district. All roads leading into the district of Drummully go via County Fermanagh. The Cavan Road, also known locally as 'the Concession Road''Sectarianism on the Border' ('Letters to the Editor', ''The Irish Times'', Thursday, 2 September 1999). https://www.irishtimes.com/1.222882Border Roads to Memories and Reconciliation: Concession Road (Clonnagore, Keelaghy). http://www.borderroadmemories.com/search-border-crossings/individual-crossing/?id=bc139 (part of the N54 / A3), the main Cavan Town to Clones road, also runs through Drummully.

The Civil Parish of Drummully (Dartree Portion) is co-extensive with the district of Drummully, this civil parish being entirely within County Monaghan.Brian G. Scott (General Editor), Claire Foley and Ronan McHugh, ''An Archaeological Survey of County Fermanagh: Volume 1 - Part 1: The Prehistoric Period'', pp. 32-33. N.I.E.A., Belfast, and Colourpoint Books, Newtownards, 2014. However, the Parish of Drummully in the Church of Ireland Diocese of Clogher covers a much larger area than the district of Drummully, as did the former Parish of Drummully in the Catholic Diocese of Clogher. The Catholic Parish of Drummully was absorbed into the Parish of Clones in either the late nineteenth century or the early twentieth century.Parish of Clones, Clogher Diocese, Co. Monaghan, Ireland. http://www.clonesparish.com The district and the various types of parish (both civil and ecclesiastical) are named after the Drummully Monastic Site. This monastic site and ruined former parish church are on a hilltop in the townland of Drummully, just inside County Fermanagh, very near Wattlebridge. The townland of Drummully is on the south-western edge of the district of Drummully.

Bridges

The Finn River passes under numerous bridges on its way to Upper Lough Erne. Most of these bridges were built in the mid- to late eighteenth century or sometime in the nineteenth century, and almost all of them are built of stone. The following bridges are listed in order, going from the river's source to the river's mouth.

Source to Roslea

Between its source and Roslea, the Finn passes under a number of bridges. These include: Derrygannon Bridge, right beside Derrygannon Community Hall, located about 3 miles north-west of Roslea, which carries the Eshnadarragh Road across the Finn; and Derryvollan (also spelled as Derryvullan) Bridge, located a few miles north-north-east of Roslea, which carries the Deerpark Road across the Finn from County Fermanagh into County Monaghan. Derryvollan Bridge, which is also known as Flynn's Bridge, is located a short distance south-west of Knockatallon, a hamlet in the north-west of County Monaghan. Corragunt Bridge, which does not cross the Finn, is just north-west of Derryvollan Bridge.Placenamesni.org: Corragunt, County Fermanagh. http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=19685

Lisnawesnagh Bridge, which is constructed of stone, is located just north-east of Roslea and also carries the Deerpark Road across the Finn. There are three bridges on the edge of Roslea itself, a village surrounded on three sides by the Finn. These Roslea bridges, all of which are built of stone, include the bridge on the southern edge of Roslea which carries the Mullanahinch Road (the sideroad to Clones) across the Finn River.

Roslea to Cumber Bridge

New Bridge, a small concrete bridge built in the twentieth century, is located just over a mile south-south-west of Roslea. This bridge is on the south-western edge of Spring Grove Forest and carries the Clogh Road across the Finn. The Clogh Road joins the Mullanahinch Road (the Roslea to Clones road) beside this bridge. New Bridge is located only a few hundred yards from County Fermanagh's boundary with County Monaghan. The Finn River flows into West Monaghan immediately south of New Bridge.

A small sideroad known locally as 'the Gorry Lane' is beside New Bridge, part of the 'lane' being on the edge of Spring Grove Forest. This 'lane' runs up over the drumlins overlooking the Finn River, running from New Bridge to a junction on the sideroad between Clogh and Stonebridge; thus, 'the Gorry Lane' crosses from County Fermanagh into County Monaghan. The 'lane' runs just to the west and south of Rathkeevan Lough.

The Finn flows under Stone Bridge, built in the early nineteenth century and located in the hamlet of Stonebridge, between Clones and Smithborough in West Monaghan. This bridge carries the N54 (the main Cavan Town to Monaghan Town road) across the river.

The Finn also flows under an aqueduct just south-east of Stonebridge. This aqueduct, which crosses from the townland of Conaghy to the townland of Gransha Beg, is built of stone and carries the now largely derelict Ulster Canal across the river.Brian Cassells, ''The Ulster Canal'', p. 51 and p. 53. Cottage Publications, Donaghadee, County Down, 2015. This book erroneously says on p. 51 that this particular aqueduct crosses over the River Lackey; it actually crosses over the Finn River, as correctly stated on p. 53 of this same publication. Part of the aqueduct is now used as a road bridge, carrying a narrow sideroad across the Finn. Conaghy Castle, formerly a ''Mac Mathghamhna'' (MacMahon) fortification, was probably quite close to the river at this point, the 'castle' almost certainly having been on a small hill overlooking the site of the later aqueduct. This 'castle' was probably a Gaelic towerhouse of some sort. Nothing now remains above ground of Conaghy Castle.

The river then passes under Annamakiff Bridge, which was constructed 1930 and is built of concrete. It then flows under Analore Bridge, parts of which date from 1720. This bridge is located in the hamlet of Analore, between Clones and Newbliss, and carries the R183 across the river. The Finn flows under the now derelict Annaghkilly Railway Bridge, located close to the former Ballynure Demesne, immediately south of Analore. N.I.A.H.: Annaghkilly, Monaghan. https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/41401732/annaghkilly-county-monaghan2 This bridge was built in the late 1850s and is constructed of stone. It carried the Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway across the Finn, carrying the railway from the townland of Ballynure across to the southern part of the townland of Annaghkilly.Annaghkilly Townland, Co. Monaghan. https://www.townlands.ie/monaghan/dartree/clones-rural/annaghkilly/

The river flows under Scarvy Bridge, a humpback bridge constructed 1820 and built of stone. It then flows under Cumber Bridge, which was constructed 1800 and is also built of stone. Cumber Bridge is located between Clones and Scotshouse, and carries the main Clones to Ballyhaise road (part of the R212) across the river.

Cumber Bridge to the Derrykerrib Bridges

After Cumber Bridge, the Finn flows under Annies Bridge, which crosses from County Fermanagh to County Monaghan very near the Hilton Demesne, just outside Scotshouse. Annies Bridge is almost 2.8 miles (around 4.5 kilometres) south-south-west of Clones. The river then flows under Ballyhoe Bridge, which is on a sideroad between Redhills and Clones and crosses the river just inside Fermanagh, not far from Clogher Market.

The Finn then flows under Annaghraw Railway Bridge and Finn Bridge, two Victorian bridges which stand right beside each other. These bridges cross from County Fermanagh into County Monaghan; however, both are located very close to Redhills, a village in County Cavan. Annaghraw Railway Bridge is a now ruined structure that was built in the late 1850s or early 1860s. N.I.A.H.: Building 41401624, Monaghan (usually known locally as Annaghraw Railway Bridge). https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/41401624/tullyhumphry-county-monaghan It formerly carried the Clones and Cavan Extension Railway (the main railway line from Clones to Cavan Town) across the river. This railway line closed in the late 1950s. Finn Bridge, also known as Annaghmullin Bridge, is a road bridge and was built in the late 1850s.

Gortnacarrow Bridge, which was built in the mid-eighteenth century,Alistair Rowan, ''The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster'' (popularly known as the '' Pevsner Guide to North West Ulster''), p. 252. Yale University Press, London, 2003 (originally published by Penguin Books

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