The River Moyola or Moyola River (Irish: Abhainn na Scríne ) stretches for approximately 27 miles from the Sperrin Mountains to Lough Neagh. The Moyola starts a small river (3-5 metres; 10' to 16') for the first few miles of its length and proceeds to expand to a medium-sized river (5-20 metres; 16' to 65') and then to a large river (20 metres +; 65' plus) for its last couple of miles before Lough Neagh. In ancient times, the River Moyola was known as the 'Bior', and served as the border between the Airgiallan kingdoms of Fir Li and Ui Tuirtri. According to Deirdre and Laurence Flanagan in their book, Irish Place Names, the River Moyola derives its name from Magh nÉola, meaning Éolas Plain.

Bridges

The Bridges of the Moyola River are, Upper River: Bealnamala Bridge, Moyard Bridge, Church Bridge, Owenreagh Bridge, Disert Bridge, Derrynoyd Bridge. Middle River: Weddell Bridge, Forgetown Bridge, Lisnamuck Bridge, A29 Fortwilliam Bridge, Curran Bridge A6 Broagh Bridge. Lower River: Dawsons Bridge, Moyola Bridge, Railway Bridge A6 Toome Bypass Bridge, Aughrim Bridge, New Bridge.

Tributaries

Douglas River The largest tributary on the river around 20 meters at its widest point it flows from the Feeny Mountain towards Moneyneany and then through the Seven Arch Bridge before joining the Moyola above the Weddell Bridge. Whitewater River The second largest tributary starting up Slieve Gallion flowing a few miles to the village of Straw before joining the river downstream from Disert Bridge. Grange Water River a smallish river around 5 meters wide it starts near Desertmartin before snaking its way across the lowland area around Curran before joining the river upstream from Curran Bridge. Altagoan River a small river which also starts on Slieve Gallion it flows northwest to join the Moyola. Mullagh River a small river about 3 meters wide along most of its length it starts at the confluence of the Milltown Burn and Back Burn outside Maghera and joins the big river downstream from Ballynahone Bridge. Glengomma Water River a mountain stream which flows from near the Glenelly Valley down towards the Moyola where it joins at Sixtowns. Coppies River the smallest tributary an urban stream which flows through the urban areas of Magherafelt it joind the Moyola between Castledawson and Newbridge.

Hydrology

The flow or discharge of the river is measured near to its mouth in Lough Neagh. The catchment area to the gauging station is 304 km2, which yields an average flow of 8.4 m3/s. The maximum recorded flow between 1971 and 2012 was 156 m3/s on 19 January 1988. The catchment has a varied geology including limestone, schist, shale and basalt with outcrops of chalk. Overlying this solid geology are superficial deposits of glacial till, plus sand and aggregates. Land use is primarily grassland, with areas of bog and heathland, but includes the towns of Magherafelt and Maghera. The average annual rainfall in the catchment is 1224 mm, which is somewhat higher than the average for United Kingdom at 1101 mm.

Mentions in literature

The river is mentioned frequently in the poetry of Seamus Heaney, such as Gifts of Rain and A New Song, Whitby-sur-Moyola and Moyulla. Critic Daniel Tobin suggests that for Heaney his "childhood river, Moyola, is not unlike Wordsworth's Derwent."