Finn River (County Fermanagh and County Monaghan)

The Finn River rises on the slopes of Knoppane, a hill just to the south of Slieve Beagh in the south-east of County Fermanagh. The Finn initially flows in a mainly easterly direction from its source, flowing through the Fermanagh townland of Cornacrieve, flowing past Derrygannon Community Hall, and flowing on to the east as far as the townland of Derryvollan (also spelled as Derryvullan). The river flows around the edges of Derryvollan, separating that Fermanagh townland from Cornaguillagh, Cornacreeve and Corrinshingo (also spelled as Corrinshigo), three townlands in the north-west of County Monaghan. The Finn meanders around the eastern edge of Derryvollan, flowing under Derryvollan Bridge. From here on, the river flows in a mainly southerly direction. crossing back into County Monaghan beside New Bridge. At a place between New Bridge and Aghafin House, the river meanders around a sharp bend, flowing in a south-easterly direction for almost two miles, entirely within County Monaghan, between the townland of Aghafin, just north-east of Clones, and the townland of Nook, just south-east of Stonebridge. The Finn then flows on through Analore, another hamlet in West Monaghan, flowing quite close to Ballynure House, a now ruined Late Georgian former residence just outside Analore. The river flows to the south of Clones, the main town in West Monaghan. then enters Upper Lough Erne nearby. The river enters the lough directly opposite Derrykerrib (Irish: Doire Choirb or Doire Ceirbe), a townland in south-east Fermanagh that was formerly an island, almost 5.3 miles (around 8.5 kilometres) south-west from Clones.) in County Fermanagh meets the townland of Castlesaunderson Demesne, where Castle Saunderson is located, in County Cavan. Thus, half of the river's mouth is in County Fermanagh, while the other half is in County Cavan. The Lanesborough Demesne, near Belturbet, is directly opposite the north-western shore of Derrykerrib. The river meanders significantly throughout most of its course. == Drummully ('the Sixteen Townlands') ==

The south-western part of the Finn River cuts Drummully off from the rest of County Monaghan. Drummully, also known as 'the Sixteen Townlands' or 'Coleman's Island', is a small district that is a pene-enclave of County Monaghan (part of the Republic of Ireland) almost entirely surrounded by County Fermanagh (part of Northern Ireland). Only a tiny stretch of the Finn River flows through Drummully, the river flowing along the southern edge of Annaghraw, a townland in the far south of the district. All roads leading into the district of Drummully go via County Fermanagh. The Cavan Road, also known locally as 'the Concession Road' (part of the N54 / A3), the main Cavan Town to Clones road, also runs through Drummully. The Civil Parish of Drummully (Dartree Portion) is co-extensive with the district of Drummully, this civil parish being entirely within County Monaghan. However, the Parish of Drummully in the Church of Ireland Diocese of Clogher covers a much larger area than the district of Drummully, as did the former Parish of Drummully in the Catholic Diocese of Clogher. The Catholic Parish of Drummully was absorbed into the Parish of Clones in either the late nineteenth century or the early twentieth century. The district and the various types of parish (both civil and ecclesiastical) are named after the Drummully Monastic Site. This monastic site and ruined former parish church are on a hilltop in the townland of Drummully, just inside County Fermanagh, very near Wattlebridge. The townland of Drummully is on the south-western edge of the district of Drummully. , also known as 'the Sixteen Townlands'. The boundaries of the district are outlined in red, with the rest of the County Fermanagh-County Monaghan border being outlined in purple. The district is almost entirely surrounded by County Fermanagh. The Finn River cuts the district off from the rest of County Monaghan. == Bridges ==

The Finn River passes under numerous bridges on its way to Upper Lough Erne. Most of these bridges were built in the mid- to late eighteenth century or sometime in the nineteenth century, and almost all of them are built of stone. The following bridges are listed in order, going from the river's source to the river's mouth. and Derryvollan (also spelled as Derryvullan) Bridge, located a few miles north-north-east of Roslea, which carries the Deerpark Road across the Finn from County Fermanagh into County Monaghan. Derryvollan Bridge, which is also known as Flynn's Bridge, is located a short distance south-west of Knockatallon, a hamlet in the north-west of County Monaghan. Corragunt Bridge, which does not cross the Finn, is just north-west of Derryvollan Bridge. Lisnawesnagh Bridge, which is constructed of stone, is located just north-east of Roslea and also carries the Deerpark Road across the Finn. There are three bridges on the edge of Roslea itself, a village surrounded on three sides by the Finn. These Roslea bridges, all of which are built of stone, include the bridge on the southern edge of Roslea which carries the Mullanahinch Road (the sideroad to Clones) across the Finn River. Roslea to Cumber Bridge New Bridge, a small concrete bridge built in the twentieth century, is located just over a mile south-south-west of Roslea. This bridge is on the south-western edge of Spring Grove Forest and carries the Clogh Road across the Finn. This 'lane' runs up over the drumlins overlooking the Finn River, running from New Bridge to a junction on the sideroad between Clogh and Stonebridge; thus, 'the Gorry Lane' crosses from County Fermanagh into County Monaghan. The 'lane' runs just to the west and south of Rathkeevan Lough. The Finn also flows under an aqueduct just south-east of Stonebridge. This aqueduct, which crosses from the townland of Conaghy to the townland of Gransha Beg, is built of stone and carries the now largely derelict Ulster Canal across the river. Part of the aqueduct is now used as a road bridge, carrying a narrow sideroad across the Finn. It then flows under Analore Bridge, parts of which date from 1720. This bridge is located in the hamlet of Analore, between Clones and Newbliss, and carries the R183 across the river. The Finn flows under the now derelict Annaghkilly Railway Bridge, located close to the former Ballynure Demesne, immediately south of Analore. This bridge was built in the late 1850s and is constructed of stone. The river flows under Scarvy Bridge, a humpback bridge constructed 1820 and built of stone. It then flows under Cumber Bridge, which was constructed 1800 and is also built of stone. Annies Bridge is almost 2.8 miles (around 4.5 kilometres) south-south-west of Clones. It formerly carried the Clones and Cavan Extension Railway (the main railway line from Clones to Cavan Town) across the river. This railway line closed in the late 1950s. . The Finn River can be seen flowing under the ruined bridge, with County Fermanagh on the left and County Monaghan on the right. Parts of the river now form a tiny part of the external border of the European Union. Gortnacarrow Bridge, which was built in the mid-eighteenth century, carries the Cavan Road (also known as 'the Concession Road', All these bridges are built of stone. There are two bridges at Derrykerrib, both of which are modern, concrete structures, located slightly to the north of the Finn River's mouth. These bridges are right beside each other, the older of the two dating from the late twentieth century, while the newer bridge was completed in 2018. These bridges carry the Derrykerrib Road from Edergool, a townland on the Fermanagh 'mainland', across a narrow channel of Upper Lough Erne and onto Derrykerrib, a townland that was formerly an island. A new navigation channel was also cut in 2017 and 2018, when the new Derrykerrib Bridge was being built. The new bridge spans this channel, which was cut on the Derrykerrib shore of Upper Lough Erne. This new channel allows boats to sail, via the Finn River, as far as the jetty at Castle Saunderson in County Cavan. The entrance to the now derelict Ulster Canal is beside the Derrykerrib Bridges, being just north of them. == Other nearby bridges ==

The following are bridges that do not actually cross the Finn River, but are located very near to the river. They are listed in order, going from the river's source towards the river's mouth. Corragunt Bridge Corragunt (also spelled as Carragunt) Bridge crosses from County Fermanagh into County Monaghan and is located only a few miles from the source of the Finn River. The bridge does not actually span the river, being situated a short distance to the north of the Finn. The bridge is just over a mile south-west of Knockatallon, a hamlet in the north-west of County Monaghan, and carries a sideroad called the Corragunt Road across a small stream. This stream, which is part of the county boundary between County Fermanagh and County Monaghan, flows into the Finn River a short distance to the south of Corragunt Bridge. memorial on Corragunt Bridge. Ballynure Viaduct Ballynure Viaduct is located immediately south of Analore, a hamlet in West Monaghan. This small railway viaduct, now derelict, is on the edge of the Ballynure Demesne, a former demesne that surrounds Ballynure House, which is also derelict. Annaghkilly Viaduct The remains of Annaghkilly Viaduct are just west of the Finn River, being on the western side of the nearby Annaghkilly Railway Bridge. == Ulster Canal ==

The most south-western stretch of the Ulster Canal runs very close to the Finn River, from just south of Stonebridge in West Monaghan all the way to near Wattlebridge in south-east Fermanagh, with the canal running via Clones. The canal was largely built between 1830 and 1841. In places, the now mainly derelict and disused canal runs right alongside the river, being carried across the river on an aqueduct at one location. == Drummully Church, Graveyard and Monastic Site ==

On a small hilltop overlooking the south-western end of the Finn River, very near Wattlebridge, is Drummully Monastic Site. The site, which is in the townland of Drummully and is just inside County Fermanagh, is right beside Clogher Market, being very close to Gortnacarrow Bridge. The church here was probably dedicated to Saint Mochomma originally, and was later under the authority of the Ó Gabhann (O'Gowan or Goan) dynasty, who held the hereditary position of airchinnech (erenagh) of this area in later Gaelic times. An Early Christian site, Drummully later developed into a small monastery and parish church in the Medieval Era. The church on the site was ruined by the early 1620s. just before the outbreak of the Great Famine. This church, often known locally as Connons Chapel, was built in a version of the Gothic Revival style and is the modern-day local Catholic church. Built as a parish church, Connons Chapel ceased to have this status when the Catholic Parish of Drummully was absorbed into the Parish of Clones in either the late nineteenth century or the early twentieth century. and is located right alongside the N54. St. Mary's is also known as Drummully Church of Ireland Church or Drummully Parish Church. Connons Chapel and St. Mary's Church are both within the Drummully pene-enclave. ==References==