Overview
The Owenmore is Sligo’s quiet river: 52.3 km of slow, limestone-fed water with no rapids and no crowds. It rises in the far south of County Sligo, near Gorteen (you will also see it spelled Gurteen) and Lough Gara, and drops through a catchment of 655 km² to meet the Unshin near Collooney. From that junction it becomes the Ballysadare River and runs out to Ballysadare Bay. Its Irish name, An Abhainn Mhór, means ‘the big river’, which undersells it – this is flat, gentle water, and that is exactly the appeal.
History and landscape
The valley is classic Sligo drumlin country: low, rolling hills under pasture, edged with native woodland, the whole thing underlain by limestone that keeps the river slow and rich. The main historic feature along its course is the Templehouse estate, whose old demesne walls now blend quietly into the hedgerows. A little further along, the Schoolhouse at Annaghmore – built in the 1860s and surrounded by mature woodland – sits right by the water and is a fair marker of how long people have lived along these banks.
What to do
Angling
This is a coarse fisherman’s river first. It holds steady stocks of bream, perch, pike, rudd and eel, with small trout as well, and being eutrophic and deep-pooled it fishes well for bream early in the season. The most productive water is around the old Templehouse bridge, where the current slows and the river deepens. Bank fishing is the way here – it is too shallow for a boat, and the fish sit in the deeper eddies behind rocks and fallen timber. Early morning and late evening are your best windows. Much of the coarse fishing along the Owenmore is free, but confirm access and any permit requirement locally, or with Inland Fisheries Ireland, before you set up.
Kayaking and paddling
For a kayak or canoe the Owenmore is a straightforward Grade 1 run – predictable, slow, and a sound choice for beginners or families teaching children to paddle. The usual line starts near Templehouse and works downstream toward Collooney. Watch for submerged branches and overhanging growth, especially after wet weather, but the stretch is otherwise easy and simple to portage.
Riverside walks and wildlife
You need no gear at all to enjoy it. Informal footpaths and farm tracks follow the banks, past reed-lined margins that give cover to otters and the occasional flash of a kingfisher over the shallows. Between March and May the wet meadows are good for migrating waders and songbirds. The stone bridge at Templehouse and the reflective water beside it make a reliable photograph in any season.
Getting there and practical information
The most direct approach is the R293 from Gorteen; signage is sparse, so follow the road toward the Templehouse area. A small, unstaffed car park near Templehouse offers free parking, but it is modest and fills quickly on dry weekends – arrive before midday. The ground around the bank is often soft, so waterproof boots or sturdy shoes are sensible.
Public transport is thin. The nearest regular bus stop is at Collooney, roughly five kilometres off; from there it is a taxi or a brisk walk on rural roads. There are no entry fees, ticket booths or set opening hours, and the river is open year-round, though levels rise fast after heavy rain. Check the Met Éireann forecast before a paddling trip.
Nearby
Collooney is a working market town a few kilometres north, with independent shops, pubs and the preserved ruins of its old railway station. Ballysadare, a little further down the system, stands on the river beside a waterfall. The Owenmore is a slow counterpoint to Sligo’s showier sights – come for empty banks and steady water rather than drama, and it delivers.