River Slaney

River Slaney Abhainn na Sláine
River Slaney at Stratford-on-Slaney
Origin	Lugnaquilla, County Wicklow
Mouth	Irish Sea at Wexford

The Slaney (Irish: Abhainn na Sláine, meaning "river of health") is a river in the southeast of Ireland. It rises on Lugnaquilla Mountain in the western Wicklow Mountains and flows west and then south through counties Wicklow, Carlow and Wexford, before entering St George's Channel in the Irish Sea at Wexford town. The estuary of the Slaney is wide and shallow and is known as Wexford Harbour.

Towns on the Slaney include Stratford-on-Slaney, Baltinglass, Tullow, Bunclody, Enniscorthy and Wexford. During the river's 117 kilometer course, it is crossed by 32 road bridges and one railway bridge.^[1]

Wildlife

Varied and plentiful wildlife can be found in the environs of the river. In Wicklow, herds of deer can be seen, as well as swans, dippers, wild ducks, herons and kingfishers. At dusk, bats, owls and otters may be seen, while the mudflats of the estuary are favoured by black-headed gulls, redshanks and oystercatchers^[2]. The rare Goosander can be seen on the Slaney at Kildavin. In season, salmon and trout are fished^[3].

Tributaries

Tributaries of the Slaney include the River Derreen, the River Derry, the River Bann, the River Urrin, the River Boro, and the River Clody.

See also

• Rivers of Ireland

References

External links

• River Slaney: Environment Under Threat
• Information on salmon fishing on the Slaney from the Salmon Ireland website

Coordinates: 52°20′N 6°27′W / 52.333°N 6.45°W / 52.333; -6.45