| River Annalee | |
| Source1 Location: | Lough Sillan, County Cavan |
| Mouth Location: | Atlantic Ocean via River Erne |
| Length Km: | 67.19 |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Ireland |
| Basin Size: | 522km2 |
The River Annalee is a river in County Cavan, Ireland.
The source of the approximately 60 km-long[1] river is Lough Sillan near Shercock[2] from which it flows westwards through Lough Tacker, and south of Cootehill, until it reaches Butlersbridge. To the west of the village the river then flows through a series of lakes, before its confluence with the River Erne.[3]
The Bunnoe and Laragh Rivers are two main tributaries that join the river below Cootehill, where it is also joined by the Dromore River. Other tributaries include the Knappagh, Madabawn and Cavan Rivers.[4]
The flow or discharge of the river is measured in its lower reaches at Butlersbridge, river levels are also measured at Rathkenny and Derryheen Bridge. The catchment area to the gauging station at Butlersbridge is 774km2, which with an annual average rainfall of 1020mm, yields an average flow of 13.7m3/s. The maximum recorded flow between 1955 and 2012 was 107m3/s on 30 November 1995.[5]
The Irish name for the river is Abhainn na hEoghanach, which originates from the name of the historical district to the north of the river known as An Eoghanach, a district sometimes anglicised as Owenagh.[6] The anglicised name of the river derives from one of the townlands through which it flows, namely Annaghlee (Eanach Lao).[7]
Fishing is quite popular at Deredis near Butlersbridge and upstream of Cootehill in the stretch below Knappagh Bridge.[8] Catches include Perch, Pike, Roach and Bream with Trout to over 3 pounds being reported.[9]
In September 1895 Charles Joseph Fay, former Home Rule League MP for Cavan, drowned in the River Annalee. It is believed that he lost his way in the dark, traveling home from Cootehill fair.[10]