The River Annalee is a river in County Cavan, Ireland.

Course

The source of the approximately 60 km-long river is Lough Sillan near Shercock from which it flows westwards through Lough Tacker, and south of Cootehill, until it reaches Butlersbridge. To the west of the village the river then flows through a series of lakes, before its confluence with the River Erne.

Tributaries

The Bunnoe and Laragh Rivers are two main tributaries that join the river below Cootehill, where it is also joined by the Dromore River. Other tributaries include the Knappagh, Madabawn and Cavan Rivers.

Volumes

The flow or discharge of the river is measured in its lower reaches at Butlersbridge, river levels are also measured at Rathkenny and Derryheen Bridge. The catchment area to the gauging station at Butlersbridge is 774 km2, which with an annual average rainfall of 1020 mm, yields an average flow of 13.7 m3/s. The maximum recorded flow between 1955 and 2012 was 107 m3/s on 30 November 1995.

Etymology

The Irish name for the river is Abhainn na hEoghanach, which originates from the name of the historical district to the north of the river known as An Eoghanach, a district sometimes anglicised as Owenagh. The anglicised name of the river derives from one of the townlands through which it flows, namely Annaghlee (Eanach Lao).

Leisure

Fishing is quite popular at Deredis near Butlersbridge and upstream of Cootehill in the stretch below Knappagh Bridge. Catches include Perch, Pike, Roach and Bream with Trout to over 3 pounds being reported.

History

In September 1895 Charles Joseph Fay, former Home Rule League MP for Cavan, drowned in the River Annalee. It is believed that he lost his way in the dark, traveling home from Cootehill fair.