The River Maigue (/ˈmeɪɡ/Irish: An Mháigh, meaning 'river of the plain')[1] rises in the Milford area of north County Cork, Ireland. The River Maigue is 38.75 miles (62.36 km) long.[2] It drains an area of 1,000 square kilometres (390 sq mi)[3]
In ancient times the Maigue was central to the territories of the O'Donovans and their predecessors in Uí Chairpre Áebda (Cairbre Eva). The majority of its towns and villages were once the sites of fortresses. Later these territories were occupied by the FitzGerald dynasty.
The beautiful slow song in Irish, ‘Slán le Máigh’, was written by Aindrias Mac Craith, a poet from the local area who lived in the 18th century. The song is still widely sung and is also played as a slow air.
Tributaries
River Loobagh
The Loobagh (Irish: An Lúbach, meaning 'The Twisted One') is a river with healthy Trout and Salmon populations. It rises in the hills south of Kilfinane and flows through Kilmallock. It joins the Maigue south of Bruree.
Morning Star River
The Morning Star is a little river which flows westwards through rich farmland through Bruff and Athlacca to join the Maigue north of Bruree.
Camogue River
The River Camogue flows in a westerly direction through Grange, Meanus and Manister and joins the Maigue upstream of Croom.
^A. D. Mills, 2003, A Dictionary of British Place-Names, Oxford University Press. Strictly speaking, the Irish term an mháigh means simply, "the plain". In this case, "river of" is an implied auxiliary meaning.
^Ordnance Survey of Ireland: Rivers and their Catchment Basins 1958 (Table of Reference)
