River Feale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Feale |
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River Feale at Finuge Crossing, County Kerry
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| Native name | Abhainn na Féile |
| Country | Ireland |
| Counties | Cork, Limerick, Kerry |
| Towns | Abbeyfeale, Listowel |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Mullaghareirk Mountains County Cork |
| River mouth | Shannon Estuary Ballyduff, County Kerry 52°28′59″N 9°41′21″W / 52.48294°N 9.68903°W |
| Length | 75 km (47 mi) |
| Depth |
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| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 445.2 sq mi (1,153 km2) |
The River Feale is a river in the southwest of Ireland. Its name in Irish is Abhainn na Féile. The river starts in the Mullaghareirk Mountains in County Cork. It flows for about 75 kilometres (47 miles) towards the northwest.
The River Feale passes through towns like Abbeyfeale in County Limerick and Listowel in County Kerry. Finally, it flows into Cashen Bay, which is a wide area of water near Ballyduff. From there, it joins the large Shannon Estuary and then the Atlantic Ocean. The river flows at a speed of about 34.6 cubic metres per second.
All the small streams and rivers that flow into the Feale add up to over 160 kilometres (100 miles) of waterways. For its last 10 kilometres (6 miles), the river is known as the Cashen River. The Feale is home to many fish, including a large number of salmon and sea trout.
Where the River Feale Begins
The River Feale starts high up in the Mullaghareirk Mountains. Its very first waters begin about 4.3 kilometres (2.7 miles) northeast of a village called Rockchapel. This area is on the southwestern slopes of the mountain.
What's in a Name?
The name of the River Feale comes from an old legend. According to a book written in the 1630s by Geoffrey Keating, the river was named after a mythical woman called Feale.
In parts of County Limerick and northern County Kerry, people sometimes call the Feale one of the "Three Sisters." This is because it's one of three rivers that all start close to each other in the Mullaghareirk Mountains. These three rivers generally flow north or northwest into the Shannon Estuary. The other two rivers are the Maigue and the Deel.
It's important not to confuse these "Three Sisters" with another famous group of rivers in Ireland. The Nore, the Suir, and the Barrow are also known as The Three Sisters, but they are much larger rivers.
