River Clare facts for kids

Quick facts for kids River Clare
The Clare on the east side of Lackagh
Native name	Abhainn an Chláir
Country	Ireland
Cities	Claregalway, Corofin, County Galway, Milltown, Ballyhaunis
Physical characteristics
River mouth	5 metres (16 ft) 53°19′48″N 9°02′56″W / 53.330°N 9.049°W / 53.330; -9.049
Length	93 kilometres (58 mi)
Basin features
River system	Corrib
Basin size	1,108 km2 (428 sq mi)
Tributaries	Left: Grange River, Sinking River

The River Clare (Irish: Abhainn an Chláir) is a river in counties Mayo and Galway in Ireland.

The 93 kilometres (58 mi) long river rises north of Ballyhaunis in Mayo and descends past Dunmore, where it flows west, then turns south past Milltown continuing down through Kilbennan Church near Tuam. It continues south until past Turloughmore, then turns sharply west, flowing north of Claregalway and, thence, further westward into Lough Corrib. The River Corrib flow from the lake into Galway Bay. The Clare is the longest river in the Lough Corrib catchment.

A large section of it is a former turlough (Irish: turlach), which, at 6.5 square kilometres, used to be Ireland's largest.

The Clare has since the 1950s been subject to ongoing arterial drainage to lower the bed of the river and mitigate flooding. This has resulted in the river being straightened and canalized between ramparts of dredge material making access to the river difficult and compromising its value as a public amenity.

The river is an important spawning channel for salmon and trout and a noted fishery in its own right for both species.

Many young teenagers also swim in it during the summer.