River Maine (County Kerry)

River Maine
River Maine near Currans
Native name	An Mhaing
Country	Ireland
Cities	Castlemaine, Currans, Castleisland
Basin features
Main source	Tobermaing, County Kerry
River mouth	Atlantic Ocean via Castlemaine Harbour
Basin size	399 square kilometres (154 sq mi)
Tributaries	Left: Brown Flesk, Little Maine
Physical characteristics
Length	42.6 kilometres (26.5 mi)
Discharge	Average rate: 0.53 m³/s (19 cu ft/s)

The River Maine (Irish: An Mhaing^[1]) is a river in County Kerry, Ireland.^[2]^[3]

History and legend

According to an ancient tradition recorded in Lebor Gabála Érenn, three rivers "burst forth" during the reign of Fíachu Labrainne as High King of Ireland. One was Innbhear Mainge — the Maine. The Annals of the Four Masters contains the same story, but spells it Mand.

The Metrical Dindshenchas records Inber Cíchmaine, cid cress, gáet co líth-baile láech-bress Maine ergna, úais ella, mac Medba ocus Ailella. ("At Inber Cichmaine, though it be narrow, was slain (a mighty onslaught) far-famed Maine, son of Medb and Ailell, exulting in fury of warlike combats.")^[4]^[5]

The Maine was the traditional division of the Kingdom of Desmond: south of the Maine was controlled by the Gaelic MacCarthys, while north of the Maine was controlled by the Norman Earl of Desmond.

Course

The River Maine rises at Tobermaing and flows westwards. It passes through Castleisland and under the N23, then meets its main tributary, the Brown Flesk. It continues through Currans and is bridged by the N22. In Castlemaine it passes under the N70 and enters the harbour.

Pollution

In 2014 the river was reported as polluted with ammonia.^[6]

Wildlife

The River Maine is a noted salmon and sea trout fishery. The brook lamprey also lives in it.^[7]

References

Rivers of Ireland
List
Flowing north	Bann Bush Foyle Roe
Flowing to the Irish Sea	Avoca Boyne Camac Castletown Dargle Dodder Fane Lagan Liffey Naniken Newry Poddle Quoile Santry Slaney Tolka Vartry
Flowing to the Celtic Sea	Bandon Blackwater Lee Mahon The Three Sisters Barrow Nore Suir
Flowing to the Atlantic	Clare Corrib Erne Eske Feale Ferta Moy Robe Shannon Swilly
Tributaries of the Shannon	Abbey River Boyle River Brosna Deel Fergus Inny Maigue Mulkear River Nenagh River Suck
River names in italics indicate rivers which are partially or wholly in Northern Ireland, with the rest being wholly in the Republic of Ireland

Coordinates: 52°13′42″N 9°19′42″W / 52.228373°N 9.328336°W / 52.228373; -9.328336

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