Three Sisters - The Suir (An tSiúr):
The River Suir is one of the Three Sister Rivers which flow into the Atlantic Ocean at Waterford Harbour after a distance of 184 kilometres.The total catchment area is 3,526 sq km. Popular with anglers, it holds plentiful reserves of brown trout. While the Suir holds the record for a salmon taken from an Irish river, (weighing 57 lb/26 kg, taken on a fly in 1874) as is the case with many other Atlantic rivers, salmon stocks have been in decline in recent years.
Riverine Head personifying the River Suir as depicted on the exterior of the Custom House in Dublin
Rising on the slopes of Devil's Bit Mountain, just north of Templemore in County Tipperary, the Suir flows south through Loughmore, Thurles, Holycross, Golden and Knockgraffon. Merging with the River Aherlow at Kilmoyler and further on with the Tar, it turns east at the Comeragh Mountains, forming the border between County Waterford and County Tipperary. It then passes through Cahir, Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir before reaching Waterford City. Just East of Waterford City, it meets the already confluenced River Barrow and River Nore to form a wide navigable estuary, capable of accommodating seagoing vessels. Together with the Nore and the Barrow, the river is one of the trio known as The Three Sisters.
The Suir is known in Irish as 'An tSiúr' and it is thought the present spelling in English with the u and i reversed is due to a mistake. Some people therefore feel that the spelling in English should be Siur and this spelling is occasionally seen. Edmund Spenser author of the The Fairie Queene, in his writings during the Elizabethan age while domiciled in County Cork, referred to the 'gentle Shure', probable a most accurate spelling and the most phonetically correct of the period.
In the early years of this century, the remains of a very large Viking settlement were found at a bend in the river just upstream from Waterford. With over 600 features such as house gullies, pits and fireplaces found, the archaeology points to a densely populated and affluent settlement. Apart from this site at Woodstown, there is no evidence of a large 9th century Viking settlement in Western Europe. Further small excavations, which took place in 2006, identified a structure which may have been associated with metal-working. Reports on these excavations have yet to be published.
The River Suir Looking West as it Flows through Waterford City
The cache is placed along the lower reaches of the river and from ground zero there is a great overview of Maeagher’s Quay and Coal Quay along Waterford City (locally known as ‘The Quay’).
Looking East and past Reginald’s Tower the river appears to turn, but this is a gentle meander before the it meets the Island on which Waterford Castle is sited. Close by and on the North bank is the New Port of Waterford at Belview which was previously sited underneath your current position. And shortly after that the Suir joins the Barrow and opens up into Waterford Harbour.
Looking West you will see immediately Rice Bridge which was opened on 22nd October 1984. It is a lifting bridge which allows shipping to proceed further up stream. The lifting function is tested on the first Friday of each month. Two more bridges traverse the river before it turns to the left and heads inland. One is an abandoned railway bridge which was part of the Waterford-Dungarvan-Mallow line and closed in 1967. The other bridge, of course, is the new Waterford bypass tolled bridge. A not insignificant cable stayed construction near the end/beginning of the M9 Waterford to Dublin Motorway.
Parking is not available directly beside the cache but I have included a suggested parking area about 5 minutes walk away. Note this parking area is only accessible from the inward (Waterford bound) lane of the dual carriageway. Please bring your own pen.