Newry River facts for kids
The Newry River and River Clanrye are two names for the same important waterway in Ireland. This river flows right through the heart of the city of Newry. After its journey, it empties into Carlingford Lough, which is a beautiful sea inlet close to Warrenpoint.
Where the River Flows
This river is special because it forms an old, historic border. It separates County Armagh from County Down. Both of these counties are in Northern Ireland.
Some maps call the part of the river that flows from Newry city towards Carlingford Lough the 'Newry River'. The part of the river that is upstream from Newry is often called the 'Clanrye'. This part winds its way back to its beginnings in the Mourne Mountains. However, not everyone uses these different names for the river's sections. Many people just call the whole river the Clanrye.
The Newry River flows right under the famous Newry Town Hall. Further upstream, the Clanrye River flows under the main road that connects Belfast to Dublin. It also passes under the Mayobridge Road.
What the Names Mean
Clanrye River Name
The name 'Clanrye' comes from the Irish language. In Irish, it is An Gleann Rí. This means The King's Valley. It's a name that suggests a royal or important place.
Newry River and Saint Patrick
There's an old story about how the city of Newry got its name, and it involves the river and Saint Patrick. Saint Patrick was a very important person in Irish history. He is said to have visited this river during his travels in Ireland.
The story says that Saint Patrick decided to plant a yew tree on a sandy part of the Clanrye River. This tree was a symbol of faith growing strong in Ireland. Because of this story, the area became known as Iúr Cinn Trá. This means 'the yew tree at the head of the strand'. Even though that part of the riverbank doesn't look like a beach today, the name stuck.
A monastery was built around this special yew tree. Later, in 1144, a Cistercian Abbey was built there instead. The city of Newry grew up around this abbey and the river. The Irish name for the city is An nIúr, which simply means 'The Yew Tree'. Over time, this became 'Newry' in English.
Today, you can still see a picture of Saint Patrick sitting by a yew tree next to the Clanrye River. This image is used as the symbol for many local groups, like the Newry City A.F.C. football team and the local Newry Reporter newspaper.
