Liffey

The River Liffey is a major river in the east of Ireland. It rises in the Wicklow Mountains in County Wicklow and flows generally north-northwest for about 125 kilometers (78 miles) through counties Wicklow, Kildare, and Dublin before reaching the Irish Sea at Dublin Bay.

Along its course it passes through the towns of Blessington, Naas, Leixlip, and Dublin city, where the river is a central feature of the capital. In Dublin, the Liffey is spanned by numerous bridges, including the Ha'penny Bridge, O’Connell Bridge, and the Samuel Beckett Bridge.

Tributaries include the Vartry River (which feeds Dublin's Vartry Reservoir), the Dodder, and the Tolka. The Liffey's name comes from the Irish An Lif, often interpreted as "the broad river" or "the flood."

Historically the Liffey powered mills and supported trade and industry in Dublin; it also provided drinking water and, in older times, posed challenges with pollution. In the late 20th century, environmental programs improved water quality under national and European directives. Today the river is a focus of urban regeneration, recreation, and river-life management. The river is tidal in its lower reaches and empties into Dublin Bay.