Sillees River
Encyclopedia
The Sillees River is located in south west County Fermanagh
. Its origins lie in Lough Ahork, which is located in Lough Navar Forest (Coill Loch na bhFear). From here it continues through Correl Glen, Derrygonnelly
and the Boho countryside passing through both Carran and Ross Loughs where it ends in Lower Lough Erne..There are a few tributary streams and rivers that flow into the Sillees river, amongst them, the Boho River, the Screenagh which emerges from the Arch cave and the Reyfad
stream which enters Pollytullybrack of the Reyfad
cave system.
In another tale of the river, there is a Highwayman known as Black Francis Corrigan
, who leaps the Sillees in a single bound with his horse after a famous robbery.
named after it, namely . Indeed, some 56 species of early Carboniferous
brachiopods alone were discovered in this area as well as 69 species of bryozoans.
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
. Its origins lie in Lough Ahork, which is located in Lough Navar Forest (Coill Loch na bhFear). From here it continues through Correl Glen, Derrygonnelly
Derrygonnelly
Derrygonnelly is a small village and townland in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Near Lower Lough Erne, the village was home to 594 people and dates to the Plantation era....
and the Boho countryside passing through both Carran and Ross Loughs where it ends in Lower Lough Erne..There are a few tributary streams and rivers that flow into the Sillees river, amongst them, the Boho River, the Screenagh which emerges from the Arch cave and the Reyfad
Reyfad
Reyfad is a townland in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It lies in the land division of Old Barr, in the civil parish of BohoThis mountainous townland is well known for its extensive cave system and Neolithic stones.The summit of the nearby hill is known as Tullybrack or Reyfad Mountain but...
stream which enters Pollytullybrack of the Reyfad
Reyfad
Reyfad is a townland in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It lies in the land division of Old Barr, in the civil parish of BohoThis mountainous townland is well known for its extensive cave system and Neolithic stones.The summit of the nearby hill is known as Tullybrack or Reyfad Mountain but...
cave system.
Folk tales associated with the river
The river is famous for the curse which was given by St Faber when she changed its direction, making the river bad for fishing and good for drowning.In another tale of the river, there is a Highwayman known as Black Francis Corrigan
Black Francis Corrigan
Black Francis Corrigan also known as Black Francis McHugh or "Proinsias Dubh" was a notorious Rapparee who "robbed the rich to give to the poor" at the end of the 18th century. His origins lay in Meencloghore which borders on the Irish counties of Tyrone, Fermanagh and Donegal...
, who leaps the Sillees in a single bound with his horse after a famous robbery.
Geological and palaeontological interest
The Sillees River has the distinction of having a species of brachiopodBrachiopod
Brachiopods are a phylum of marine animals that have hard "valves" on the upper and lower surfaces, unlike the left and right arrangement in bivalve molluscs. Brachiopod valves are hinged at the rear end, while the front can be opened for feeding or closed for protection...
named after it, namely . Indeed, some 56 species of early Carboniferous
Carboniferous
The Carboniferous is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Devonian Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya , to the beginning of the Permian Period, about 299.0 ± 0.8 Mya . The name is derived from the Latin word for coal, carbo. Carboniferous means "coal-bearing"...
brachiopods alone were discovered in this area as well as 69 species of bryozoans.