Arney River
Encyclopedia
The Arney River is a small river in County Fermanagh
, Northern Ireland
, feeding from Lower Lough MacNean
and into Upper Lough Erne. It meanders through a wide, flat Glacial Trough between the uplands of Fermanagh, Belmore Mountain
and the Cuilcagh
Mountains. The valley is characterised by wide flat lowlands enclosed by low hills. The Cladagh River
drains into the Arney River.
There are six bridging points on the Arney River, five of these are suitable for motorised vehicles, while one is located on private land near to the source of the river.
and trout
, however, the river is mainly populated by perch
.
army was marching north to relieve the besieged garrison of Enniskillen
. It was surprised and routed in the Arney River. Blood soaked into the fields at the edge of the river and military stores floated in the river's ford, resulting in the area being named the Red Meadow and the Ford of Biscuits. In February 1594, an English army took and garrisoned Enniskillen. The fort was promptly besieged by Hugh Maguire
, Red Hugh O’Donnell
and Cormac McBarron O’Neill (Hugh O’Neill’s brother). A relief army led by Sir Henry Duke was ambushed on the Arney River and routed by Maguire in the Battle of the Ford of the Biscuit: a title commemorating the sight of English rations floating down the Arney.
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, feeding from Lower Lough MacNean
Lower Lough MacNean
Lower Lough MacNean is a large freshwater lake in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The lake is fed by a small river which flows from Upper Lough MacNean into the lake at a bridging point between the villages of Belcoo and Blacklion, County Cavan. This river forms the border between County...
and into Upper Lough Erne. It meanders through a wide, flat Glacial Trough between the uplands of Fermanagh, Belmore Mountain
Belmore Mountain
Belmore Mountain is a hill in the townland of Gortgall, western County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. With a summit roughly above sea level, it is the second highest point in Fermanagh, the highest being at Cuilcagh on the Northern Ireland–Republic of Ireland border in the south of the...
and the Cuilcagh
Cuilcagh
Cuilcagh, historically Slieve Cuilcagh , is the highest mountain in the Breifne area and the 165th highest on the island of Ireland . The summit lies on the border between County Fermanagh and County Cavan , and is the highest point in both counties...
Mountains. The valley is characterised by wide flat lowlands enclosed by low hills. The Cladagh River
River Cladagh
The Cladagh River is a small river in County Fermanagh which rises from Marble Arch Caves, below Cuilcagh Mountain, before flowing through Cladagh Glen Nature Reserve and eventually draining into the Arney River.- Below ground :...
drains into the Arney River.
There are six bridging points on the Arney River, five of these are suitable for motorised vehicles, while one is located on private land near to the source of the river.
Angling
The river is often used by amateur anglers who are fishing for salmonSalmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
and trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
, however, the river is mainly populated by perch
Perch
Perch is a common name for fish of the genus Perca, freshwater gamefish belonging to the family Percidae. The perch, of which there are three species in different geographical areas, lend their name to a large order of vertebrates: the Perciformes, from the Greek perke meaning spotted, and the...
.
History
In August 1594, early in the rising of Ulster's chiefs, the EnglishEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
army was marching north to relieve the besieged garrison of Enniskillen
Enniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
. It was surprised and routed in the Arney River. Blood soaked into the fields at the edge of the river and military stores floated in the river's ford, resulting in the area being named the Red Meadow and the Ford of Biscuits. In February 1594, an English army took and garrisoned Enniskillen. The fort was promptly besieged by Hugh Maguire
Hugh Maguire
Aodh Mag Uidhir, anglicised as Hugh Maguire was the Lord of Fermanagh in Ireland during the reign of Elizabeth I and leader of the ancient Maguire clan; he died fighting crown authority during the Nine Years War.-Early career:...
, Red Hugh O’Donnell
Hugh Roe O'Donnell
Aodh Rua Ó Dónaill, anglicised as either Hugh Roe O'Donnell or Red Hugh O'Donnell , was An Ó Domhnaill and Rí of Tir Chonaill . He led the Irish forces against the English conquest of Ireland from 1593 and helped to lead the Nine Years' War from 1595 to 1603...
and Cormac McBarron O’Neill (Hugh O’Neill’s brother). A relief army led by Sir Henry Duke was ambushed on the Arney River and routed by Maguire in the Battle of the Ford of the Biscuit: a title commemorating the sight of English rations floating down the Arney.