Cladagh Swanlinbar River

The Cladagh River rises in Cuilcagh Mountain and flows through County Cavan before crossing the border into Co. Fermanagh, where it widens and then enters Upper Lough Erne.

Within County Fermanagh the 14.88km length of river has two distinct forms. The upper half is typical of fast-flowing dynamic rivers with beds of Stream Water Crowfoot Ranunculus penicillatus var. penicillatus, whilst the lower half of the river is slow-flowing and very deeply dredged as it nears Upper Lough Erne.

The river is of particular importance for its associated fauna, as it is one of the few rivers in Northern Ireland that still retains a significant and viable population of the Fresh Water Pearl Mussel Margaritifera margaritifera.