Newry River

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Newry River and River Clanrye are names for one of the rivers of Northern Ireland; it passes through the city of Newry and empties into Carlingford Lough near Warrenpoint. Some maps call the portion downstream from Newry to the Lough the "Newry River" and the portion upstream of Newry the "Clanrye" (as it curls around to its sources in in the foothills of the Mourne Mountains, but not all sources make this distinction.

The word 'Clanrye' refers to an ancient family (clan) called 'Rye' or equivalent.

While the Newry River flows under the famous Newry Town Hall, according to Ordinance Survey Northern Ireland[1], the Clanrye breaks away from the Newry River near Drummillar. The Clanrye then progresses under the main Belfast to Dublin (A1 road (Northern Ireland)) at Sheepbridge and onward toward the Mayobridge Road at the Crown Bridges and Ashtree Cottages. According to local tradition however, the entire waterway is known as the Clanrye.

[edit] The County River

The Newry River is also known locally as The County River, as it acts as the accepted border between counties Down and Armagh. Colloquially, the river may also be known simply as "The County", e.g. "I'm jus' goin' a swim in the County", which would have been a common expression before the opening of the Newry Swimming Pool.

[edit] Saint Patrick

During one of Saint Patrick's exploratory missions to Ireland he set up camp on a sandy stretch of the Clanrye River, which by the way does not look beach like in it’s present form. Whilst settling himself there he took the decision to plant a Yew Tree symbolising Ireland’s growing and strengthening faith. It is this story which gave Newry its name, "Iubhair Cinn Tragh" (the Yew tree at the head of the strand). A monastery grew up around this Yew tree, which was later replaced in 1144 by a Cistercian Abbey [2].