River Moy

Overview

The River Moy (An Mhuaidh) is one of the west of Ireland’s most celebrated waterways. Rising at the foot of the Ox Mountains in County Sligo, it travels roughly 120 km southwest before turning north at Kilmore and emptying into Killala Bay at Ballina. Its 2,086 km² catchment feeds a river that averages 61.5 m³/s into the Atlantic, shaping a dynamic landscape of floodplains, ancient woodlands and quiet valleys. Around 9,000 salmon a year make this Ireland’s most productive salmon river, and the reason most anglers come to this corner of north-west County Mayo. The river corridor forms a natural spine for walkers, cyclists and wildlife watchers, threading together Victorian architecture, monastic ruins and untouched nature.

History & Heritage

The Moy’s name appears in Ptolemy’s 2nd-century geography as Libniu and later in Adomnán’s 8th-century Life of Columba as Modam fluvium. Its modern Irish name, An Mhuaidh, likely derives from the Old Irish muad, meaning “noble”. The river has long shaped settlement patterns, most notably in Ballina. Originally known as Belleek, the town was formally laid out in 1723 by Charles O’Hara, 1st Baron of Tyrawley. A new quay in 1836 transformed it into a bustling seaport and market hub.

The 1840s brought the Great Famine, during which the Ballina Poor Law Union workhouse was built. Once one of the country’s largest, its surviving buildings now house the modern District Hospital. The river also played a role in the 1798 Rebellion, when French troops passed through the Tyrawley estate en route to Killala. Today, the Moy still frames Ballina’s Victorian-Gothic St Muredach’s Cathedral (1834) and the imposing Belleek Castle, a 19th-century country house set in mature woodland. On the opposite bank, Ardnaree retains its historic charm with a 19th-century bridge and quiet riverside paths.

The friaries

Six religious houses went up along the river between the 13th and 15th centuries, and most survived the 16th-century Dissolution only as ruins. If you have time for one, make it Rosserk.

• Rosserk Abbey – the best-preserved Franciscan friary on the estuary, with foliate pillars, an intact east window and a round-tower piscina carved into the wall.
• Moyne Abbey (c.1455) – a large Franciscan friary with a complete cloister, ship graffiti and a secretarium. Access is over a stile and a right-of-way across private farmland, so it suits the sure-footed more than anyone with limited mobility.
• Ardnaree Abbey (Ballina) – the first Augustinian priory in the west of Ireland, pre-1400, still showing its west door.
• Court Franciscan Friary (Lavagh) – 15th-century, with a hidden anchorite cell and faint medieval murals.
• Banada Augustinian Friary (1423) – worth a look for the surviving stair up to the dormitory.
• Priory of the Holy Cross, Straide (c.1240) – a Dominican house known for the sculpted tomb set into its north wall.
• Rathfran Abbey – a ruined Augustinian house on the north bank, good stonework and river views.

Salmon fishing

The Moy was once among Europe’s premier salmon fisheries. Although drift-netting caused a dramatic decline in the late 20th century, a 2006 ban combined with the construction of a modern weir near the river mouth has helped the run recover. Ballina earned the title “Salmon Capital of Ireland” for good reason: the weir’s summer holding pool allows anglers to watch fish actively fighting the current.

The season runs from 1 February to 30 September, with the best sea-trout in late spring and early summer. The most prized spot is the Ridge Pool, which traditionally yields around a third of the annual Moy catch. Beats on the lower and upper river are reserved for guests at Mount Falcon; otherwise local operators such as Moy Charters run salmon and sea-trout trips on the estuary. Carrowmore Lake, a short drive off, holds spring salmon and sea-trout. Catch-and-release is strongly encouraged to sustain the population.

One thing to confirm before you travel: Inland Fisheries Ireland can close the Moy and Erriff fisheries when water temperatures pass 20°C, as it did in May 2025. A proposed licence-lottery system for the river is under public consultation, so confirm current permit arrangements with the local fishery office rather than assume last season’s rules still hold. Rod licences are issued by the Central Fisheries Board and can be purchased online or at tackle shops in Ballina. Even non-anglers find the weir worth a look; the public promenade offers clear views of the holding pool from late spring through early autumn.

Walking & cycling

The Moy corridor is criss-crossed by well-marked routes that suit every fitness level. The Monasteries of the Moy Greenway is the flagship project – a 14 km signed path from Ballina to Killala:

The grades are gentle and the route is fine for families and unhurried cyclists. Bike hire is in Ballina (details below).

For a more atmospheric walk, the Belleek Woods Heritage Trail covers roughly 6 miles through an urban forest planted in the early 19th century. Look out for the old lime kilns (dating to 1830), a secluded Hermitage, the Ice House, a mausoleum and a Fairy Trail featuring handcrafted wooden houses. Brochures are available at the car park entrance. Further upstream, a Sculpture Trail leads to contemporary installations along the estuary, while the long-distance Western Way and Foxford Way intersect the valley for multi-day treks. A short drive inland brings you to Foxford, where a graceful stone bridge spans the river above the famous woollen mills.

Wildlife & nature

While salmon dominate the conversation, the Moy supports a diverse ecosystem. Otters are regularly sighted along quieter stretches, particularly at dawn and dusk. The river’s banks and surrounding woodlands attract kingfishers, grey herons and occasional ospreys during the summer months. Badgers, red deer and a rich understory of native flora thrive in the floodplain habitats. Spring and autumn are particularly rewarding for birdwatchers, as migratory waders and raptors use the river corridor as a feeding ground.

Around the valley

Beyond the river there is enough to fill a few days:

• Céide Fields – a short drive north, these 5,000-year-old Neolithic field systems are among the oldest enclosed farms anywhere, seen on guided tours.
• Belleek Woods – 78 ha of mixed woodland with up to 6 miles of marked trails, a riverside loop and native red squirrels.
• Jackie Clarke Collection (Walsh Street, Ballina) – over 100,000 maps, newspapers, political posters, photographs and films spanning four centuries of Irish history, from the Land League to the 1916 Rising and beyond. Open Tuesday–Saturday 10am–5pm.
• Foxford Woollen Mills – a working mill with tours of the looms and a shop of hand-woven goods.
• North Mayo Heritage Centre (Enniscoe) – exhibitions on Famine walks and local history.
• Father Peyton Memorial Centre (Attymass) – on Fr Patrick Peyton, founder of the Family Rosary Crusade, with a contemplative garden.
• Dolmen of the Four Maols and St Patrick’s Cross – stone monuments in Ballina town centre.

Golf runs to the links at Enniscrone and the parkland course at Ballina; Easkey beach to the north has surf schools.

Festivals

• Ballina Salmon Festival (July; 2026 dates: 12–19 July) – a week of fishing competitions, music and food stalls built around the run.
• Ballina Street Festival (July) – street performance, a Mayo crafts market and family events.
• North Mayo Sculpture Trail (year-round) – contemporary works dotted along the estuary and coast, good for a slow walk.

Where to stay

• Mount Falcon Estate – a 4-star Victorian manor on the west bank, with a spa, golf driving range, on-site salmon beats and falconry, clay-shooting and archery on the grounds.
• The Ice House Hotel & Spa – riverside spa hotel in Ballina.
• Belleek Castle Hotel – country house set in Belleek Woods, with a library restaurant.
• Ballina Manor Hotel – family-run 4-star in the town centre, near the greenway.
• Brigown B&B – riverside, with an 18-choice breakfast and a freezer for anglers’ catch.
• Moy Hotel (Foxford) – a 4-star in nearby Foxford, handy for the Angling Advice Centre and the woollen mills.

Practical information

The River Moy is a public waterway with free access to its banks, walking trails and public fishing stretches. Angling licences are required for salmon and trout and can be bought through the Central Fisheries Board or local tackle shops.

The valley centres on Ballina, a rail-linked town on the N5 and N59. The nearest airports are Ireland West Airport Knock (45 km) and Dublin (250 km). Bus Éireann routes 440 and 442 connect Ballina with Castlebar and Westport. Parking in Ballina is free on-street, with a paid car park near the quay and parking at the greenway trailheads. Wheelchair-friendly access is available on the Ballina waterfront promenade.

Bike hire

Moy Charters

Fishing permits for the Moy are handled by local fishery managers; Mount Falcon guests get beat access on arrival. Carrowmore Lake permits come from Bangor Erris Angling Club.

The friary ruins are open-air sites on uneven ground with no formal hours, generally open all year but occasionally closed for conservation. Moyne in particular needs a stile and a walk across private land. The Moy runs fast after heavy rain, and there have been drownings, including a fisherman near Foxford in 2018 and a rescue in January 2025. Swimming is not advised; anglers should wear proper safety gear.