Editing River Foyle

{{short description|River in the northwest of the island of Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = River Foyle
| native_name        ={{native name|ga|An Feabhal}}
| name_other         = 
| name_etymology     = Feba(i)l, [[Irish mythology|mythological figure]]
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = Close-up of the Foyle River - geograph.org.uk - 192963.jpg
| image_size         = 288
| image_caption      = River Foyle from Holly Hill, near [[Strabane]], with the Laggan district of East [[County Donegal|Donegal]] in the distance.
| map                = 
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<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Jurisdictions 
| subdivision_name1  = [[Republic of Ireland]], [[Northern Ireland]]
| subdivision_type2  = 
| subdivision_name2  = 
| subdivision_type3  = [[Provinces of Ireland|Province]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Ulster]]
| subdivision_type4  = Counties
| subdivision_name4  =  [[County Donegal|Donegal]], [[County Tyrone|Tyrone]], [[County Londonderry|Londonderry]]
| subdivision_type5  = Cities
| subdivision_name5  = [[Derry]]
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length_km = 32
| width_min          = 
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<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = [[River Finn (Foyle tributary)|River Finn]] and [[River Mourne]]
| source1_location   = [[Newtownstewart]]
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|54.721|N|7.365|W|type:river_region:GB|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation  = 
| source2            = [[River Finn (County Donegal)|River Finn]] 
| source2_location   = [[Lough Finn]]
| source2_coordinates= {{coord|54.859|N|8.135|W|type:river_region:GB|display=inline}}
| source2_elevation  = 
| source_confluence            = 
| source_confluence_location   = [[Strabane]] / [[Lifford]]
| source_confluence_coordinates= {{coord|54.829|N|7.480|W|type:river_region:GB|display=inline}}
| source_confluence_elevation  = 
| mouth              = [[Lough Foyle]]
| mouth_location     = 
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|55.107|N|7.079|W|type:river_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation    = 
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}}

[[Image:River Foyle 2004 SeanMcClean.jpg|thumb|250px|The River Foyle at night in Derry]]
[[File:River Foyle, Londonderry.jpg|thumb|250px|The Foyle, early morning, April 2006]]

The '''River Foyle''' ({{Irish derived place name|An Feabhal}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.logainm.ie/1166108.aspx|title=An Feabhal/River Foyle|website=Logainm.ie|access-date=16 April 2018}}</ref> is a [[river]] in west [[Ulster]] in the northwest of the island of [[Ireland]], which flows from the confluence of the rivers [[River Finn (County Donegal)|Finn]] and [[River Mourne|Mourne]] at the towns of [[Lifford]] in [[County Donegal]], [[Republic of Ireland]], and [[Strabane]] in [[County Tyrone]], [[Northern Ireland]]. From here it flows to the city of [[Derry]], where it discharges into [[Lough Foyle]] and, ultimately, the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. The total length of the River Foyle is {{cvt|32|km}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/notesonriverbas00willgoog|title=Notes on river basins|last=Robert A. Williams|date=16 April 1872|access-date=16 April 2018|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> The river separates part of County Donegal from parts of both [[County Londonderry]] and County Tyrone. The district of County Donegal that borders the western bank of the River Foyle is traditionally known as the Laggan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eastdonegalulsterscots.com/about.html|title=East Donegal Ulster Scots – About us|work=eastdonegalulsterscots.com|access-date=12 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213133924/http://www.eastdonegalulsterscots.com/about.html|archive-date=13 February 2012}}</ref> This district includes the villages of [[St Johnston, County Donegal|St Johnston]] and [[Carrigans, County Donegal|Carrigans]], both of which are nestled on the banks of the River.

==Tributaries==
The [[Burn Dale]] (also known as the [[Burn (landform)|Burn]] Deele or the River Deele) flows into the River Foyle on the northern outskirts of [[Lifford]], while the Swilly [[Burn (landform)|Burn]] flows into the Foyle near [[Porthall]], a [[Hamlet (place)|hamlet]] between [[St Johnston, County Donegal|St Johnston]] and Lifford. St Johnston Burn flows into the Foyle at St Johnston, while Flushtoun Burn flows into the river on the southern outskirts of St Johnston. Carrigans Burn flows from Port Lough, and enters the Foyle on the southern outskirts of [[Carrigans, County Donegal|Carrigans]]. Both the Burn Dennet and the Glenmornan River flow into the Foyle just to the north of [[Ballymagorry]], entering the river a short distance to the north of Corkan Isle.

==Name==
[[Claudius Ptolemy]]'s ''[[Geography (Ptolemy)|Geography]]'' (2nd century AD) described a river mouth called Ουιδουα (''Widua'', from [[Proto-Indo-European language|PIE]] *''widhu'', 'tree') which referred to the Foyle.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.romaneranames.uk/essays/ireland.pdf |title=Ireland |website=romaneranames.uk  |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402180652/http://www.romaneranames.uk/essays/ireland.pdf |archive-date=2 April 2019}}</ref>

The [[Irish language|Irish]] name is ''An Feabhal'', which refers to Febail, father of the mythical [[The Voyage of Bran|Bran]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://iso.ucc.ie/Immram-brain/Immram-brain-names.html|title=Irish Sagas: Immram Brain names|first=Tom|last=O'Donovan|website=iso.ucc.ie|access-date=16 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i1B0AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA327|title=A Companion to British Literature, Volume 1: Medieval Literature, 700–1450|first1=Heesok|last1=Chang|first2=Robert Jr.|last2=DeMaria|first3=Samantha|last3=Zacher|date=2013|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-118-73189-5|page=327}}</ref>

==Crossings==
The River Foyle is also the fastest-flowing river in [[Europe]] for its size {{Citation needed|reason=According to who?|date=September 2022}}, making the construction of [[bridge]]s across it difficult. In [[Derry]], the main crossing point, there are three bridges. The southernmost bridge, the oldest of the three, is Europe's only road traffic double-decker bridge and is officially known as the [[Craigavon Bridge]] (occasionally referred to colloquially as the Blue Bridge). The northernmost bridge, known as the [[Foyle Bridge]], is a much larger bridge and was built to accommodate tall [[ship]]s at a time when it was envisaged that the city would need to accommodate such vessels. However, this proved unnecessary as the main port was moved several miles north of the city and the large vessels it was designed for never had to come so far south. The Foyle Bridge was planned originally by the Londonderry Development Commission and was intended to alleviate the traffic congestion on the existing Craigavon Bridge and in the city centre. However, political prevarication meant that it was not constructed until the 1980s. Derry's third bridge, the [[Peace Bridge (Foyle)|Peace Bridge]], is situated behind the [[Guildhall, Derry|Guildhall Square]], north of the Craigavon Bridge. The pedestrian and cycle bridge was opened in 2011, intended as a symbol of union between the two sides of the city.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-13900571 | title =Celebrations to mark opening of Derry's peace bridge |publisher=BBC News |date=24 June 2011 |access-date=11 August 2011}}</ref>

Outside Derry, the only bridge to cross the River Foyle is [[Lifford Bridge]], which was built in the 1960s between [[Lifford]], the [[county town]] of County Donegal, on the western bank of the river, and [[Strabane]], a major town in County Tyrone, on the eastern bank.

==Navigation==
The tidal Foyle is navigable from the coast to approximately {{convert|10|mi|km|0|order=flip|spell=in}} inland. The derelict [[Strabane Canal]] continued from this point a further {{convert|4|mi|km|0|order=flip|spell=in}} to [[Strabane]]. Traffic on the Foyle further south than the northern bridge is now more or less restricted to pleasure boats with the occasional tanker coming in the refinery at the northern end of the town. A tour of the Foyle on board a small cruise ship called the Toucan One, once provided tourists a chance to travel along the River Foyle from Derry city centre to Greencastle County Donegal on the shores of Lough Foyle. However, because of a lack of funding from various sources, this venture has now come to a standstill.

==Foyle Search and Rescue==
Due to the presence of three bridges over the river in Derry, some people choose to attempt [[suicide]] by jumping into the deep and fast-moving Foyle. 'Foyle Search and Rescue' was established as a charity in July 1993 and has adopted the role of protecting human life in the River Foyle from the Craigavon Bridge, Foyle Bridge and the newly opened Peace Bridge. Between 1993 and 2008 it dealt with more than 1000 people in distress.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120804040702/http://www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk/features/Foyle-Search-amp-Rescue-.3678168.jp Foyle Search & Rescue – a fourth emergency service] 16 January 2008, Retrieved 16 February 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.derryjournal.com/journal/TREBLED-Suicide-bids-along-Foyle.3758910.jp TREBLED: Suicide bids along Foyle -in 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612221755/http://www.derryjournal.com/journal/TREBLED-Suicide-bids-along-Foyle.3758910.jp |date=12 June 2008 }} 8 February 2007 Retrieved 16 February 2007.</ref>

==Fishing==
Prior to the [[Plantation of Ulster]] the fishing rights on the River would have been owned by the O’Neills and the O’Donnells, the Chieftains of [[Tír Eoghain]] and [[Donegal (town)|Donegal]] respectively. When the Plantation of Ulster started in 1609 a body called [[The Honourable The Irish Society]] had been set up by Royal Charter in 1613 to administer the affairs of the Plantation. The Society was then given the rights to the fishing on the river and on the [[River Bann]], all except the parts of the rivers owned by the [[Bishop of Derry and Raphoe|Bishop of Derry]]. In 1944 an action for trespass was taken by the Society against a fisherman from [[Porthall]] who they deemed to be fishing illegally. The case was heard by Mr Justice [[George Gavan Duffy]] in the high court in [[Dublin]] during 1947–48. The case was dismissed against the man. The Society then appealed the decision and also appealed to both Northern and Southern Governments at losing the case. Both Governments agreed to buy the fishing rights for the sum of £110,280 on condition that they drop the appeal. This led to the establishment of a commission to oversee the fishing on the river and on [[Lough Foyle]]. The body set up was called the Foyle Fisheries Commission and was established by a Bill passed simultaneously by the Governments of the Republic of Ireland<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1952/en/act/pub/0005/index.html|title=electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB)|first=electronic Irish Statute Book|last=(eISB)|website=irishstatutebook.ie|access-date=16 April 2018}}</ref> and Northern Ireland<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1952/5| title = Foyle Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1952}}</ref> on 25 March 1952. The Foyle Fisheries Commission was disestablished on 10 April 2007 with the signing of the Foyle & Carlingford Fisheries Act 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2007/en/act/pub/0017/index.html|title=electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB)|first=electronic Irish Statute Book|last=(eISB)|website=irishstatutebook.ie|access-date=16 April 2018}}</ref> 
The Foyle is believed to be one of the best [[Atlantic Salmon]] rivers in Ireland. 
Details of the fishing regulations are available from the Loughs Agency.<ref>[http://www.loughs-agency.org/site/ Loughs Agency. org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091231054455/http://www.loughs-agency.org/site/ |date=31 December 2009 }} Retrieved 1 September 2008.</ref> The village of St Johnston, which lies on the County Donegal bank of the river, is a major fishing settlement on the Foyle.

==Area of Special Scientific Interest==
<!--<ref>{{cite web | title=Area of Special Scientific Interest – River Foyle and Tributaries | work=Northern Ireland Environment Agency | url=http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/assisitedetails?id=ASSI229 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20110609020506/http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/assisitedetails?id=ASSI229 | url-status=dead | archive-date=9 June 2011 | access-date=1 March 2009 }} {{subst:CURRENTYEAR}}|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>-->
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==Railways==
The riverbank has the [[Belfast-Derry railway line]] providing a key link to the city of [[Derry]]. Trains bring passengers along on the [[Northern Ireland Railways|NI Railways]] service along the shoreline of [[Lough Foyle]] from onward stations such as [[Coleraine railway station|Coleraine]], [[Lanyon Place railway station|Belfast Lanyon Place]] and [[Belfast Grand Central station|Belfast Grand Central]].[[File:Waiting to depart from Derry-Londonderry (Waterside) Railway Station - geograph.org.uk - 746432.jpg|thumb|[[Northern Ireland Railways]] at [[Derry ~ Londonderry railway station|Derry~Londonderry railway station]].]]

==See also==
* [[Rivers of Ireland]]
* [[List of rivers of Ireland]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|River Foyle}}
<!-- Please ensure that any links added here conform to the guidelines in [[WP:LINKS]] and [[WP:COI]] -->
*[http://www.salmon-ireland.com/salmon-fishing-ireland/foyle/foyle-fisheries-management.jsp Salmon fishing on the Foyle System, from Salmon Ireland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091023165501/http://www.salmon-ireland.com/salmon-fishing-ireland/foyle/foyle-fisheries-management.jsp |date=23 October 2009 }}

{{Rivers of Ireland}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Rivers of County Donegal|Foyle]]
[[Category:Rivers of County Londonderry|Foyle]]
[[Category:Rivers of County Tyrone|Foyle]]
[[Category:International rivers of Europe|Foyle]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland–United Kingdom border]]