Where the Owen Riff River Flows

It moves so quiet and peaceful,

Through bogland and through moor,

Those precious calming waters,

Not a ripple to endure,

But the pace becomes more relevant,

And the tempo gently grows,

As this gem of nature comes to life;

As Owen Riff gently flows.

It flows beneath the famed “Maam Turks”,

Where once the wild boar roamed,

And continues ‘neath the “Quiet Man” Bridge,

Before it steers for home,

As it crashes through the rocky falls,

And sends the spray on high,

What a refreshing sensation,

As the cooling waters fly.

The shattering sounds like thunder roar,

As those waves they pound the rocks,

As the torrent roars and headlong plods,

As the River bed it shocks,

And then there’s peace at last to find,

A mellowing of the tide,

As the river silently makes its way,

To the Corrib Lake beside.

Reaching the town of Oughterard,

Beneath the Bridge it glides.

To make its way to Aughnanure,

Where O’Flaherty’s held with pride,

Their Ancient Castle still survives,

A reminder of days long gone,

When the Norman hordes they met their match,

Where the Owen Riff gushes on.