Rivers and lakes

Irish Stones

Looking at the map of Ireland I see that some bodies of water are named in a certain way and others are named the other way round.
For example, River Boyne and Ogulla River.
Another example, Lough Oughter and Carratraw Lough.
I mean, when do I have to write Lough or River before the name, and when do I have to write it after the name?
Thanks

Yakuza

I'm not aware of any particular rule; the order may simply be down to local usage / custom.
Wikipedia suggests it's a US / UK english difference : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Naming_conventions_%28geographic_names%29

Personally, when referring to rivers, I wouldn't even use "river" - i.e. I'd talk about "the Shannon" or "the Liffey" etc., but in the same breath I could be talking about "Lough Derg" and then "Carlingford Lough".

Irish Stones

Thanks Yakuza!
Of course the term "river" can be omitted in the everyday speaking, and I think this is true in any language, but when it comes to maps it's different.
I thought that a rule could be "River" before the name in case of a large and important river, and "River" after the name when the river only has a local importance or if it's a small river. Same thing for the lakes.
Obviously this rule is not true...

Yakuza

Ah ok, I didn't pick up the fact you meant written usage in particular - it might just be simply "one of those things" you just learn with experience.