River Foyle

The River Foyle rises where the Finn and Mourne meet at Lifford in County Donegal and Strabane in County Tyrone. From there it flows north-east for thirty-two kilometres to the city of Derry, where it widens into Lough Foyle and then the Atlantic. The river separates County Donegal from County Londonderry and County Tyrone, and the low-lying Laggan district lines its western bank. Villages such as St Johnston and Carrigans sit on the Donegal shore, each with burns that feed into the main stream. Small tributaries like Burn Dale and Swilly Burn join the Foyle at Lifford and Porthall, while others enter near Ballymagorry and Corkan Isle. The Foyle is Europe’s fastest-flowing river of its size, which made bridge-building difficult and left only one crossing outside Derry. Lifford Bridge links County Donegal to County Tyrone, while Derry’s three bridges span the river in the city. The Craigavon Bridge, a double-decker road bridge, is the oldest of the three. The Foyle Bridge was planned in the 1960s but not finished until the 1980s because of delays. The Peace Bridge, opened in 2011, is a pedestrian and cycle link behind the Guildhall Square. The river is tidal for sixteen kilometres and once carried trade ships, though now pleasure boats and the occasional tanker use the waterway. Visitors can walk the riverbank paths in St Johnston and Carrigans, where small burns trickle into the main channel. The railway line from Belfast to Derry runs along the eastern shore, offering views of the water from passing trains. The Foyle is famous for Atlantic salmon, and St Johnston remains a centre for fishing. Foyle Search and Rescue patrols the bridges to prevent tragedy in the fast current. The river’s mouth at Lough Foyle opens to the Atlantic, completing a short but lively journey from upland streams to the open sea.