ERNE, name of a river and two lakes in north-west Ireland. The river rises in Lough Gowna, Co. Longford, flows north through Lough Oughter, and then broadens into Upper Lough Erne, a shallow sheet of water 13 m. long, thickly studded with islands. It winds past the town of Enniskillen and enters Lough Erne, which is 18 m. long and 5 m. in extreme width. The island of Devenish is celebrated for its antiquarian remains (see ENNIS KILLEN). The river then runs westward to Donegal bay, with falls at Ballyshannon (q.v.). The area of the Erne basin is c. 1,600 sq.m., and the length of the Erne valley c. 7o m.