Irish:
An Bhearu
Rising in the
Slieve Bloom mountain range in the centre of
Ireland and
flowing for about 120 miles (190 km) to
Waterford harbour in the
southeast, where it joins
the Rivers
Nore and
Suir. From its upper
mountain
course in counties
Laois and
Offaly, it
flows east across
bogs and lowlands and then turns
south into the lowland immediately
east of the Castlecomer (
Kilkenny) Plateau. In the last 15 miles (25 km) before the
confluence with
the Nore, it flows through a steep, wooded gorge, which gives way to a wider lowland
near New Ross. Market towns along the river include Athy (town in
Kildare),
Carlow, and Graiguenamanagh.
The Rivers Nore, Suir and Barrow are known as
The Three Sisters.