River Eske
| River Eske | |
|---|---|
Map showing the flow of River Eske and the six road bridges that cross it | |
| Etymology | From Irish iasc, "fish" |
| Native name | An Iascaigh (Irish) |
| Location | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Ulster |
| County | County Donegal |
| Barony | Tirhugh |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Lough Eske |
| Mouth | |
• location | Atlantic Ocean via Donegal Bay |
| Length | 24.54 km (15.25 mi) |
| Basin size | 80.8 km2 (31.2 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 0.16 m3/s (5.7 cu ft/s) |
The River Eske (Irish: Abhainn na hIascaí; also Eask) is a river in County Donegal, Ireland. It begins at Lough Eske in the southeast of the county before flowing mainly westwards to the town of Donegal and into the Atlantic Ocean via Donegal Bay.
Donegal Town is the only major settlement through which it flows. Despite its size, the river is well known for fishing, especially for spring salmon, sea trout and char, with the season running from 1 March to 30 September.
The river flows in the Bluestack Mountains, which are to the north of Donegal Town. On the north-eastern edge of Donegal Town, the Drumenny Burn flows into the River Eske beside the Community Hospital. In the town, the Eske passes several tourist attractions, one of which is Donegal Castle, the former seat of the O'Donnell Clan, the ancient rulers of the Lordship of Tyrconnell (roughly similar to modern day County Donegal). The mouth of the river is directly opposite a former Franciscan Abbey which was built by the O'Donnells but was destroyed by the English following the Flight of the Earls in 1607.