County Down Rivers

EDITED EXTRACTS FROM THE TOPOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF IRELAND, 1837

The principal rivers are the Bann and the Lagan, neither of which is navigable within the limits of the county: the former has its source in two neighbouring springs in that part of the Mourne Mountains called the Deer's Meadow, and quits this county for Armagh, which it enters near Portadown, where it communicates with the Newry Canal.

The Lagan has also two sources, one on Slieve Croob, and the other in Slievenaboley, which unite near Waringsford: near the Maze it becomes the boundary between the counties of Down and Antrim, in its course to Belfast Lough.

There are also the Newry River and the Ballynahinch river, the former of which rises near Rathfriland, and falls into Carlingford Lough; and the latter derives its source from four small lakes, and empties itself into the south-western branch of Strangford Lough.

This county enjoys the benefit of two canals, viz. the Newry navigation, along its western border, connecting Carlingford Lough with Lough Neagh; and the Lagan navigation which extends from the tideway at Belfast along the northern boundary of the county, and enters Lough Neagh near that portion of the shore included within its limits.

The Lagan Canal, being partly through the bed of the Lagan, its passage is so much impeded by floods as to detract much from the benefits anticipated from its formation.