The River Lee (An Laoi)

The river that splits to cradle Cork city on an island.

Rising in the mountains at Gougane Barra, the Lee flows east and divides into two channels that embrace the centre of Cork city. Much of the old city was built on the marshy island between its arms.

At a glance

• Rises at Gougane Barra
• Splits to enclose Cork city centre
• Gives Cork its 'island city' character

In County Cork

The River Lee is in County Cork, Corcaigh in Irish, which means “marsh”.

More in Cork

• Múscraí (Muskerry) (Gaeltacht Mhúscraí): The Cork Gaeltacht in the hills of Muskerry, a Munster-Irish community with a rich song tradition.
• Blarney Castle (Caisleán na Blarnan): A medieval stronghold famous for the Blarney Stone and the 'gift of the gab'.
• Mizen Head (Carn Uí Néid): Ireland's most south-westerly point, reached by a spectacular arched bridge.
• Gougane Barra (Guagán Barra): A serene mountain lake and island oratory, source of the River Lee.

Other places of this kind

• River Shannon (An tSionainn): The longest river in Ireland, flowing generally southward.
• The River Liffey (An Life): The river that flows through the heart of Dublin, spanned by the city's famous bridges.
• The River Barrow (An Bhearú): One of the Three Sisters, winding through Carlow's fertile valley.
• The River Nore (An Fheoir): One of the Three Sisters, flowing through the medieval city of Kilkenny.

The Irish name

The Irish form of The River Lee is An Laoi. You can hear it spoken, and take apart names like it, in the Placename Explorer. The authoritative record for any Irish place-name is logainm.ie.