The River Barrow has the second longest main river channel in the country and covers an area of approximately 2983 km2. The River Barrow catchment includes parts of counties Laois, Offaly, Kildare, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford and Wicklow. The River Barrow rises in the Slieve Bloom mountains in County Laois approximately 6 km south of Clonaslee. It flows north easterly until it reaches the Offaly county boundary at Monettia Bog where it turns in a south easterly direction. From near Mountmellick, it flows in an easterly direction through Portarlington forming part of the boundary between Laois and Offaly, to Monasterevin. From Monasterevin the river flows in a southerly direction through Athy, Carlow, Leighlinbridge, Bagenalstown, Grauigenamangh and New Ross, to its confluence with the River Suir at Cheekpoint.
The Barrow is joined by the Nore approximately 4 km upstream of New Ross and is tidal for another 13 km upstream to St. Mullin’s. The Barrow in conjunction with stretches of the canal, provides a navigable channel between New Ross and the main Grand Canal system at Athy.
The main tributaries joining the left bank (east side) are the Cushina, Figile and Slate which form one tributary at Monasterevin and the Tully, Greese, Lerr, Burren, Mountain and Poulmounty, while on the right bank (west side) it is joined by the Owenass, Triogue, Stradbally, Douglas, Fushogue, Gowran, Powerstown and Duiske tributaries.
Most of the main channel of the River Barrow and its main tributaries are part of the Barrow/Nore Special Area of Conservation (SAC) which is designated under the Habitats Directive as having special conservation value because of the presence of listed species and habitats.
The national population census of 2002 indicated that 145,561 people live in the Barrow catchment area.
The Barrow catchment management initiative was launched by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources in March 1998 as one of six pilot catchment management projects in the country. A steering Group was established and consists of a large variety of stakeholders in the catchment including representatives from regulatory organisations, industry, the angling and fishing sector, the farming sector, the tourism sector and academic institutions. The steering group has been committed to working towards the sustainable management of the aquatic environment since its inception. The steering group normally meets on a quarterly basis to discuss issues relevant to the catchment. The steering group acts as a forum for information exchange and facilitates joint ventures between stakeholders within the catchment. In the past the Department of Marine and Natural Resources provided funding for the initiative which was used to fund a variety of projects within the catchment.
'Stakeholders working towards a fish friendly, sustainable Barrow catchment ecosystem'
The Barrow Steering Group includes representatives of the following organisations: