Corribsiders v NoreSiders

Tomorrow, reigning All Ireland Hurling Champs Kilkenny face Galway at Croke Park.

The Noresiders from Kilkenny will be looking for revenge as the lads from the banks of the Corrib gave them a bloody nose in this summer’s Leinster Final (yes, Galway is in Leinster for hurling if not geographical purposes).

Much of Irish identity is defined by water. We’re an island nation, surrounded by it.  But we also have a multitude of inland waterways.  Many of our major towns or cities grew up on river mouths, for purposes of trade, transport and access to fresh water. Other inland settlements sprang up at easily fordable crossings.

For many years this poem was a staple part of the primary curriculum:

Dublin’s on the Liffey,         

Cork is on the Lee ,            

Limerick’s on the Shannon

with Lough Allen, Derg and Ree.

Waterford’s on the Suir and

Kilkenny’s on the Nore

New Ross is on the Barrow

We’ve heard of them before.

Wexford’s on the Slaney and

Drogheda’s on the Boyne

Belfast on the Lagan and

Derry is on the Foyle  

Ballyshannon is on the Erne and Ballina is on the Moy

Galway’s on the Corrib

So Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye.

Check out this brilliant interactive game from Scoilnet to see how good your knowledge of Ireland’s rivers are:   http://www.scoilnet.ie/Rivers_of_Ireland.shtm

This great site explains how rivers flow, and the features associated with them

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/riversandcoasts/rivers/whatis_river/pg_04_flash.shtml 

For very useful geography links in general, go to http://www.cjfallon.ie/geography-quest/weblinks4/