Carrowmore Lake
Encyclopedia
Carrowmore Lake is situated in the parishes of Kiltane
and Kilcommon
Erris
, County Mayo
between the villages of Bangor Erris
and Barnatra at the southern end of Broadhaven Bay
. The freshwater lake is over four miles long and almost 3 miles wide at its widest point. Glencullen townlands line its eastern shore and Rathmorgan and the Knocknascollop mountains rise up along its western shores. Carrowmore is not a deep lake and it provides the drinking water for the whole of the Erris area. It is fed by the Carrowmore river and drains into the Owenmore river on its way to Blacksod Bay
,
The lake is designated as a S.P.A. (Birds directive) in E.U. law and also as 000476 Complex S.A.C. (Special Area of Conservation)
It is an oligotrophic/mesotrophic lake with a substrate of Dalradian schist
s and pale quartzite
. Its shorelines are dominated by blanket bog mainly but there are many houses, mainly linear in layout, along both sides of its shores.
Its catchment area includes the townland of Bellanaboy
in Kilcommon
where the contentious Corrib Gas refinery is situated.
to as late as the 17th century. The fort of Rathmorgan on the mountain at the south west corner of the lake is the site of the Táin Bó Flidhais
cattle raid on Erris from Cruachan
in Tulsk, Co. Roscommon, a tale from the Iron Age
cycle of folklore.
This poem by George Russell about Carrowmore Lake is from the National Library of Ireland archives: http://www.inver.org/ceantar/amandacarr.htm
Kiltane
-Origins:Kiltane derives its name from Cill Seadhna, or Seadhna's church, which was in the townland of Kiltane by the banks of the Owenmore river. The name 'Seadhna' was well known in the Early Christian Period. There is mention of a bishop and priest of that name in an old tract but no detail as...
and Kilcommon
Kilcommon
Kilcommon is a civil parish in Erris, north Mayo consisting of two large peninsulas; Dún Chaocháin and Dún Chiortáin. It consists of 37 townlands, some of which are so remote that they have no inhabitants...
Erris
Erris
Erris is a barony in northwestern County Mayo in Ireland consisting of over , much of which is mountainous blanket bog. It has extensive sea coasts along its west and north boundaries. The main towns are Belmullet and Bangor Erris. The name Erris derives from the Irish 'Iar Ros' meaning 'western...
, County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
between the villages of Bangor Erris
Bangor Erris
Bangor Erris is a town in Kiltane parish in Erris, County Mayo, Ireland with a population of 500. It is on the banks of the Owenmore River and is the gateway to the Erris Peninsula linking Belmullet with Ballina and Westport, nestled at the foot of the "Bangor Trail" a 22-mile mountain pass across...
and Barnatra at the southern end of Broadhaven Bay
Broadhaven Bay
Broadhaven Bay is a natural bay of the Atlantic Ocean situated on the northwestern coast of County Mayo, Ireland. The opening of the bay faces northward, stretching between Erris Head on the west side and Kid Island on the east side with approximately 8.6 km between the two sides.It borders...
. The freshwater lake is over four miles long and almost 3 miles wide at its widest point. Glencullen townlands line its eastern shore and Rathmorgan and the Knocknascollop mountains rise up along its western shores. Carrowmore is not a deep lake and it provides the drinking water for the whole of the Erris area. It is fed by the Carrowmore river and drains into the Owenmore river on its way to Blacksod Bay
Blacksod Bay
Blacksod Bay is a bay of the Atlantic Ocean in Erris, North County Mayo, Ireland. The bay is bounded on its western side by the Mullet Peninsula and to its eastern side by the coastline of Kiltane Parish where it extends southwards from Belmullet towards Gweesalia and Doohoma...
,
The lake is designated as a S.P.A. (Birds directive) in E.U. law and also as 000476 Complex S.A.C. (Special Area of Conservation)
It is an oligotrophic/mesotrophic lake with a substrate of Dalradian schist
Schist
The schists constitute a group of medium-grade metamorphic rocks, chiefly notable for the preponderance of lamellar minerals such as micas, chlorite, talc, hornblende, graphite, and others. Quartz often occurs in drawn-out grains to such an extent that a particular form called quartz schist is...
s and pale quartzite
Quartzite
Quartzite is a hard metamorphic rock which was originally sandstone. Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts. Pure quartzite is usually white to gray, though quartzites often occur in various shades of pink...
. Its shorelines are dominated by blanket bog mainly but there are many houses, mainly linear in layout, along both sides of its shores.
Its catchment area includes the townland of Bellanaboy
Kilcommon
Kilcommon is a civil parish in Erris, north Mayo consisting of two large peninsulas; Dún Chaocháin and Dún Chiortáin. It consists of 37 townlands, some of which are so remote that they have no inhabitants...
in Kilcommon
Kilcommon
Kilcommon is a civil parish in Erris, north Mayo consisting of two large peninsulas; Dún Chaocháin and Dún Chiortáin. It consists of 37 townlands, some of which are so remote that they have no inhabitants...
where the contentious Corrib Gas refinery is situated.
Archaeology
There are many islands in the lake. Some of these are thought to have been crannogs in use as lake fortifications through from the Iron AgeIron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
to as late as the 17th century. The fort of Rathmorgan on the mountain at the south west corner of the lake is the site of the Táin Bó Flidhais
Táin Bó Flidhais
Táin Bó Flidhais, also known as the Mayo Táin, is a tale from the Ulster Cycle of early Irish literature. It is one of a group of works known as Táin Bó, or "cattle raid" stories, the best known of which is Táin Bó Cúailnge...
cattle raid on Erris from Cruachan
Cruachan
Cruachan may refer to:*Cruachan, Ireland, the ancient capital of the kingdom of Connacht in Ireland*Cruachan , an Irish Celtic metal band*Ben Cruachan, a Scottish mountain...
in Tulsk, Co. Roscommon, a tale from the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
cycle of folklore.
This poem by George Russell about Carrowmore Lake is from the National Library of Ireland archives: http://www.inver.org/ceantar/amandacarr.htm