River Boyne

"Boyne Valley" redirects here. For other uses, see Boyne Valley (disambiguation).

The River Boyne (Irish: An Bhóinn or Abhainn na Bóinne) is a river in Leinster, Ireland, the course of which is about 112 kilometres (70 mi) long. It rises at Trinity Well, Newberry Hall, near Carbury, County Kildare, and flows north-east through County Meath to reach the Irish Sea between Mornington, County Meath, and Baltray, County Louth.

River Boyne An Bhóinn (Irish) Abhainn na Bóinne (Irish)
River Boyne at Brú na Bóinne
Etymology	Proto-Celtic *bou-windā, "white cow"
Native name	An Bhóinn (Irish)
Location
Country	Ireland
Region	Leinster
Counties	Kildare, Offaly, Meath, Louth
Physical characteristics
Source	Trinity Well, Newberry Hall, near Carbury
• location	County Kildare
• coordinates	53.351906542854074°N 6.956809100021702°W / 53.351906542854074; -6.956809100021702
Mouth	Irish Sea
• location	Between Mornington, County Meath, and Baltray, County Louth
• coordinates	53.72173°N 6.23813°W / 53.72173; -6.23813
Length	112 km (70 mi)
Basin size	2,695 km2 (1,041 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	38.8 m3/s (1,370 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries
• right	River Blackwater

The River Boyne and Boyne Valley as seen from the Knowth passage tomb of Brú na Bóinne

Names and etymology

This river has been known since ancient times. The Greek geographer Ptolemy drew a map of Ireland in the 2nd century that included the Boyne, which he called Βουουίνδα (Bouwinda) or Βουβίνδα (Boubinda), which in Celtic means "white cow" (Irish: bó fhionn). During the High Middle Ages, Giraldus Cambrensis called it the Boandus. In Irish mythology it is said that the river was created by the goddess Boann and Boyne is an anglicised form of the name. In other legends, it was in this river where Fionn mac Cumhail captured Fiontán, the Salmon of Knowledge. The Meath section of the Boyne was also known as Smior Fionn Feidhlimthe (the 'marrow of Fionn Feilim'). The tidal estuary of the Boyne, which extends inland as far as the confluence with the Mattock River, 'the curly hole', had a number of names in Irish literature and was associated as a place of departure and arrival in the ancient legends and myths, such as The Tragedy of the Sons of Tuireann, Togail Bruidne Dá Derga, &c. In the Acallam na Senórach the estuary has the name Inber Bic Loingsigh, abounding in ships. Inber Colpa or Inber Colptha was the principal name for the mouth of the Boyne in early medieval times. The townlands and civil parish of Colp, or Colpe on its southern shore preserve the name. It was associated in myth with Colpa of the Sword, a son of Míl Espáine, in the Milesian origin of the Irish, who drowned in the attempt to land there and is by tradition buried in the ringfort behind Colpe church. An alternative Dindsenchas tradition associates the name with the Máta, a massive aquatic creature, which having been killed was dismembered at Brú na Bóinne was thrown in the Boyne. Its shinbone (colptha) reached the estuary giving name to Inber Colptha.

Course and geography

The Boyne is a lowland river, surrounded by the Boyne Valley. It is crossed just west of Drogheda by the Mary McAleese Boyne Valley Bridge, which carries the M1 motorway, and by the Boyne Viaduct, which carries the Dublin–Belfast railway line to the east. The catchment area of the River Boyne is 2,695 km². The long-term average flow rate of the River Boyne is 38.8 cubic metres (50.7 cu yd) per second.

Significance

Despite its short course, the Boyne has historical, archaeological and mythical connotations. The Battle of the Boyne, a major battle in Irish history, took place along the Boyne near Drogheda in 1690 during the Williamite war in Ireland. It passes through the ancient town of Trim, Trim Castle, the Hill of Tara (the ancient capital of the High King of Ireland), Navan, the Hill of Slane, Brú na Bóinne (a complex of megalithic monuments), Mellifont Abbey, and the medieval town of Drogheda. In the Boyne Valley can also be found other historical and archaeological monuments, including Loughcrew, Kells, Celtic crosses, and castles.

History

Boyne Canal

Section of the Boyne canal that runs parallel to the main river around the Battle of the Boyne site west of Drogheda

The Boyne Navigation is a series of canals running roughly parallel to the main river from Oldbridge near Drogheda to Navan. The navigation, owned by An Taisce and mostly derelict, is being restored to navigable status by the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland. The canal at Oldbridge, which runs through the Battle of the Boyne site, was the first to be restored.

Prehistoric art

A rock that showed indications of being prehistoric art was found in August 2013. Cliadh O'Gibne reported through the Archaeological Survey of Ireland that a boulder with geometric carvings had been found in Donore, County Meath.

Ancient log-boat

Workers from the Boyne Fishermen's Rescue and Recovery Service (BFRRS), near Drogheda, County Louth, were performing one of its regular operations to remove shopping trolleys from the Boyne, in May 2013, when they discovered an ancient log-boat, which experts believe may be 5000 years old. Initial examination by an underwater archaeologist suggested that it could be very rare because, unlike other log-boats found here, it has oval shapes on the upper edge that could have held oars. Investigations were ongoing as of 2013.

Viking ship

In 2006, the remains of a Viking ship were found in the river bed in Drogheda during dredging operations. The vessel is to be excavated as it poses a hazard to navigation.

Annalistic references

Further information: Annals of Inisfallen (AI)

• AI770.2 The battle of Bolg Bóinne [gained] against the Uí Néill, by the Laigin.

Flora and fauna

Several species of trout inhabit the Boyne: brook trout, brown trout and introduced rainbow trout. There is also a steelhead in the spring, and naturally reproducing salmon in the fall.

Gallery

• 
  An aerial view of Drogheda and the River Boyne estuary
• 
  River Boyne at Trim
• 
  River Boyne at Navan
• 
  A weir on the River Boyne near Stackallen
• 
  River Boyne at Dunmoe Castle
• 
  River Boyne upstream from Slane
• 
  River Boyne passing under the Boyne Cable Bridge in Drogheda
• 
  Boyne Viaduct over the River Boyne
• 
  River Boyne at Mornington
• 
  River Boyne at Brú na Bóinne
• 
  River Boyne at Brú na Bóinne
• 
  The former Boyne Obelisk, which stood on the north bank of the River Boyne (near Drogheda) from 1736 to 1923

See also

• HMS Boyne
• Anthony Holten, author of The River Boyne: Hidden Legacies, History and Lore Explored on Foot and by Boat (ISBN 9780956991119)

External links

• Salmon fishing on the River Boyne, from Salmon Ireland
• A canoeing and kayaking guide to the River Boyne, from Irish Whitewater