List of Irish loughs
Encyclopedia
This article is a list of loughs on the island of Ireland
. The word lough
is pronounced loc and comes from the Irish
loch, meaning lake.
The list below contains only those loughs that are of geographic, geological or historical importance. The list includes loughs that are situated within Northern Ireland
and the Republic of Ireland
. Those partly or wholly within Northern Ireland are marked with an asterisk (*).
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The word lough
Lough
A lough is a body of water and is either:* A lake* A sea lough, which may be a fjord, estuary, bay, or sea inlet.It can also be used as a surname, with various pronunciations: law, loch, low, lowe, loth, loff....
is pronounced loc and comes from the Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
loch, meaning lake.
The list below contains only those loughs that are of geographic, geological or historical importance. The list includes loughs that are situated within Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. Those partly or wholly within Northern Ireland are marked with an asterisk (*).
Largest
| Lough | Area (km²) | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lough Neagh Lough Neagh Lough Neagh, sometimes Loch Neagh, is a large freshwater lake in Northern Ireland. Its name comes .-Geography:With an area of , it is the largest lake in the British Isles and ranks among the forty largest lakes of Europe. Located twenty miles to the west of Belfast, it is approximately twenty... * | 388 | Ulster Ulster Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial... |
| 2 | Lough Corrib Lough Corrib Lough Corrib is a lake in the west of Ireland. The River Corrib or Galway river connects the lake to the sea at Galway. It is the second largest lough in Ireland . It covers 178 km² and lies mostly in County Galway with a small area of its northeast corner in County Mayo.The first canal in... | 200 | Galway County Galway County Galway 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 city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county... and 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... |
| 3 | Lough Derg (Shannon) | 118 | Munster Munster Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes... |
Freshwater loughs
- Lough AllenLough AllenLough Allen is a lake situated on the River Shannon, in the north-central part of Ireland, near Ireland's border region. Most of the lake is in County Leitrim, with a smaller portion in County Roscommon. The lake lies to the south of the river's source, near the Iron Mountains, and is the...
, County Leitrim - Lough BallysaggartBallysaggart LoughBallysaggart Lough or Black Lough is a lough in Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is part of the waterway created to service mills in nearby Moygashel.In 2002 a man drowned after getting into difficulties swimming across it....
, County Tyrone* - Lough BaneLough BaneLough Bane is a lough situated on the borders of County Meath and County Westmeath in Ireland. The border between the two counties runs east-west through the centre of the lake.-External links and references:* *...
, County Meath and Westmeath - Lough BegLough BegLough Beg is a small freshwater lake north of Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland. The lake is located on the border between County Londonderry and County Antrim....
, County Londonderry and County Antrim* - Lough CaraghCaragh LakeCaragh Lake is a large and scenic lake in County Kerry, Ireland.-Ecology:The lake is included within a large Special Area of Conservation, ....
, County Kerry - Lough CarraLough CarraLough Carra is a limestone lake of , located in the Barony of Carra, County Mayo, Ireland, approximate 8 miles south of Castlebar. It is approximately long and varies in width from to one mile . The average depth is , with a maximum of 60. Lough Carra was part of the estate of the well-known...
, County Mayo - Lough CarrowmoreCarrowmore LakeCarrowmore 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...
, County Mayo - Lough CleaClea LakeClea Lake or Lough Clea is situated just outside Keady in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It provides water for the Keady area and is a popular fishing location in south Armagh....
, County Armagh* - Loughs Cloonee and InchiquinCloonee and Inchiquin LoughsCloonee and Inchiquin Loughs, Uragh Wood is the name of a Natura 2000 lake and woodland site in Tuosist, County Kerry, Ireland. Habitats incude lowland oligotrophic lakes and oceanic oak woodland....
, County Kerry - Lough ConnLough ConnLough Conn is a lake in County Mayo in the province of Connacht in Ireland and covers about 14,000 acres . With its immediate neighbour to the south, Lough Cullin, it is connected to the Atlantic by the River Moy...
, County Mayo - Lough CorribLough CorribLough Corrib is a lake in the west of Ireland. The River Corrib or Galway river connects the lake to the sea at Galway. It is the second largest lough in Ireland . It covers 178 km² and lies mostly in County Galway with a small area of its northeast corner in County Mayo.The first canal in...
, County Galway and County Mayo - Lough CullinLough CullinLough Cullin is a lake in County Mayo in Ireland. With its immediate neighbour to the north, Lough Conn, it is connected to the Atlantic by the River Moy. Lough Cullin is noted for its trout and salmon fishing....
, County Mayo - Lough DanLough DanLough Dan is a boomerang-shaped ribbon lake near Roundwood, County Wicklow, Ireland. It is a popular area for hikers and kayakers and lies very close to the Wicklow Way....
, County Wicklow - Lough Derg, Counties Clare, Galway and Tipperary
- Lough Derg, County Donegal
- Lough DerravaraghLough DerravaraghLough Derravaragh is a lough in County Westmeath, Republic of Ireland, north of Mullingar between Castlepollard, Collinstown, Crookedwood and Multyfarnham...
, County Westmeath - Lough DunleweyDunlewey LoughLough Dunlewey is a lake in Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland. It gets its name from the area in which it is situated, Dunlewey. It sits under the tallest peak in Co. Donegal, Mount Errigal. It also has a crannóg....
, County Donegal - Lough EnaghEnagh LoughEnagh Lough is a pair of lakes in Northern Ireland called East lake and Westlake, situated between Judges Road and Temple Road in Maydown, County Londonderry.-Features:Under the surface at the bottom of the lake there is ice age water...
, County Londonderry* - Lough EnnellLough EnnellLough Ennell is a lake near the town of Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland. It is situated beside the N52 road, off the Mullingar/Kilbeggan road. It is approximately 4.5 miles long by 2 miles wide, with an area of about...
, County Westmeath - Lough ErneLough ErneLough Erne, sometimes Loch Erne , is the name of two connected lakes in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The lakes are widened sections of the River Erne. The river begins by flowing north, and then curves west into the Atlantic. The southern lake is further up the river and so is named Upper...
, two lakes: Upper Lough Erne and Lower Lough Erne, County Fermanagh* - Lough EskeLough EskeLough Eske or Lough Eask is a small lake in County Donegal, in the northwest of Ireland. The lake lies to the northeast of Donegal Town, to which it is connected by the River Eske...
, County Donegal - Lough FeeaghLough FeeaghLough Feeagh is a freshwater lough in County Mayo, Ireland. It is the largest of the lakes in the Burrishoole catchment, which consists of seven lakes and interconnecting rivers and streams...
, County Mayo - Lough FinnLough FinnLough Finn is a freshwater lough in County Donegal, Ireland. The lough, along with its neighbouring village of Fintown, was named after a mythological woman, Finngeal, who drowned in the lake after attempting to save her wounded brother Feargamhain....
, County Donegal - Lough GaraLough GaraLough Gara is a lake in County Sligo, Republic of Ireland.-History:Lough Gara was known in ancient times as Loch Techet, but the O’Garas, during their ownership of the Coolavin district from about the thirteenth century, renamed the lake “Loch Uí Ghadhra”. The first documented reference appeared...
, County Sligo - Lough GillLough GillLough Gill is a freshwater lough mainly situated in County Sligo, but partly in County Leitrim, in Ireland. It is about 8 km or 5 miles long and 2 km or 1 mile wide, and drains into the River Garavogue near Sligo Town. The picturesque lake is surrounded by wooded hills and is popular with...
, County Sligo - Lough GlenveaghGlenveaghGlenveagh — covering 170 square kilometres of hillside above Glenveagh Castle on the shore of Lough Veagh , some 20 km from Gweedore in County Donegal, Ireland — forms the heart of the Glenveagh National Park , the second largest national park in Ireland...
, County Donegal - Lough GownaLough GownaLough Gowna is a fresh water lake which is the uppermost lake on the River Erne. It is located on the border between County Longford and County Cavan, with the largest part of the lake being in County Longford....
, County Cavan and County Longford - Lough GurLough GurLough Gur is a lake in County Limerick, Ireland between the towns of Herbertstown and Bruff. The lake forms a horseshoe shape at the base of Knockadoon Hill and some rugged elevated countryside. It is one of Ireland's most important archaeological sites...
, County Limerick - Loughinisland, County Down*
- Lough IronLough IronLough Iron is a small lake on the River Inny, in County Westmeath, Ireland.A long and narrow lake, about 4 kilometers in length, it lies downstream from Lough Derravaragh, close to Lough Owel.It's a renowned bird and wildlife sanctuary, and also...
, County Westmeath - Lough Island ReavyLough Island ReavyLough Island Reavy is a small man-made lough in Kilcoo, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is a great fishing spot, which is controlled by the Belfast Anglers club. The lake contains pike and perch, as well as small numbers of wild brown trout and eels....
, County Down* - Loughs of KillarneyLakes of KillarneyThe Lakes of Killarney are a renowned scenic attraction located near Killarney, County Kerry, in Ireland. They consist of three lakes - Lough Leane, Muckross Lake and Upper Lake.Lough Leane is the largest of the three lakes...
, County Kerry - Lough KeyLough KeyLough Key is a lake in Ireland. It is located in the northwest of County Roscommon, northeast of the town of Boyle. The lough's name is believed to come from Cé, a druid; the lake was formed over his grave.-Derivation of name:...
, County Roscommon - Lough LeneLough LeneLough Lene is a lake situated in north County Westmeath, Ireland, between the villages of Castlepollard, Collinstown and Fore....
, County Westmeath - Lough MacNean (lower)Lower Lough MacNeanLower Lough MacNean is a large freshwater lake in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The lake is fed by a small river which flows from Upper Lough MacNean into the lake at a bridging point between the villages of Belcoo and Blacklion, County Cavan. This river forms the border between County...
, County Fermangh* - Lough MaskLough MaskLough Mask is a limestone lough of 22,000 acres in County Mayo, Ireland, north of Lough Corrib. Lough Mask is the upper of the two lakes, which empty into the Corrib River, through Galway, into Galway Bay. The lake is visited for its trout fishing...
, County Mayo - Lough MelvinLough MelvinLough Melvin is a lake which is internationally renowned for its unique range of plants and animals. It is located in the northwest of Ireland on the border between County Leitrim and County Fermanagh ....
, County Fermanagh* and County Leitrim - Lough NafooeyLoch Na FooeyLoch Na Fooey is a rectangular shaped glacial lake situated in County Galway. Part of the north-eastern shore lies along the border to County Mayo. The closest village is Finny, Co...
, County Galway - Lough NeaghLough NeaghLough Neagh, sometimes Loch Neagh, is a large freshwater lake in Northern Ireland. Its name comes .-Geography:With an area of , it is the largest lake in the British Isles and ranks among the forty largest lakes of Europe. Located twenty miles to the west of Belfast, it is approximately twenty...
, – the largest lake in Britain and Ireland* - Lough OughterLough OughterLough Oughter is a lake, or complex of lakes, in County Cavan covering approximately 8931 hectares. It is on the River Erne, and forms the southern part of the Lough Erne complex...
, County Cavan - Lough OwelLough OwelLough Owel is a lough in the Midlands of Ireland, situated north of Mullingar, the county town of Westmeath. It is a deep lake, well known amongst anglers, and holds a few char along with brown trout. Water from Lough Owel feeds the Royal Canal, a canal crossing Ireland from Dublin to the River...
, County Westmeath - Lough PortmorePortmore LoughPortmore Lough is a small lake in southwest County Antrim, Northern Ireland that drains water into nearby Lough Neagh. It is roughly circular and covers an area of 286 hectares...
, County Antrim* - Lough RamorLough RamorLough Ramor is a large natural lake of 741 hectares situated near Virginia, County Cavan. From early records Vita Tripartita identified as being in the territory of Cenal Muinreamhair. The literal meaning of the term Muinreamhair is 'fat-neck' and appears to be derived from a prehistoric or...
, County Cavan - Lough ReeLough ReeLough Ree is a lake in the midlands of Ireland, the second of the three major lakes on the River Shannon. Lough Ree is the second largest lake on the Shannon after Lough Derg. The other two major lakes are Lough Allen to the north, and Lough Derg to the south, there are also several minor lakes...
, County Westmeath, County Longford and County Roscommon - Lough SheelinLough SheelinLough Sheelin is a limestone freshwater lough in Ireland located in County Westmeath, County Meath and County Cavan near the village of Finea and the town of Granard County Longford....
, County Westmeath and County Cavan - Lough SheeverLough SheeverLough Sheever is a small lake near Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland. It is located off the Castlepollard road about 3 kilometers from Mullingar. The lake is popular with anglers, for roach, perch, tench, etc. Boat hire is available....
, County Westmeath - Lough SillanLough SillanLough Sillan is a lough located near the town of Shercock in County Cavan, Ireland.-Facilities:There is a mobile home park as well as a well-equipped playground on the lake, a few hundred metres along the Cootehill Road out of Shercock...
, County Cavan - Lough TaltLough TaltLough Talt is situated in south Sligo between the villages of Tubbercurry, Aclare and Bunnyconnellan.The lake is a noted site of picture perfect sunsets on calm evenings, as the sun sinks over "The Gap". The Lake is a good source of trout averaging 250g...
, County Sligo - Lough TayLough TayLough Tay is a small but scenic lake set in the Wicklow Mountains in County Wicklow, Ireland. It lies between the mountains of Djouce and Luggala, and is most easily viewed from above, from the R759 or the Wicklow Way as it descends past the J. B. Malone memorial...
, County Wicklow - Loughs Yganavan and NambrackdarrigLough Yganavan and Lough NambrackdarrigLough Yganavan and Lough Nambrackdarrig are two lakes of ecological importance in County Kerry, in southwestern Ireland. They are included in a Special Area of Conservation of 271.57 ha, which protects land in private ownership and state-owned nature reserve...
, County Kerry
Turloughs
- Glenamaddy TurloughGlenamaddy TurloughThe Glenamaddy Turlough is located east of the town of Glenamaddy, County Galway in Ireland. A turlough is a seasonal lake which usually dries up in summer...
, County Galway - Rahasane TurloughRahasane turloughRahasane turlough is a turlough, that is a karst lake, which has no surface outlet and is surrounded on all sides by rising land. It is the largest surviving turlough in Ireland. Water collects seasonally in the basin and drains away only through evaporation or seepage into the underlying limestone...
, County Galway - Shannon PotShannon PotShannon Pot is a small lake in the Karst topography found on the slopes of Cuilcagh Mountain in County Cavan, Ireland. An aquifer-fed naturally fluctuating pool, it is the traditional source of the River Shannon.The pool itself is approximately in diameter. It was first explored by divers in 1971...
, County Cavan
Sea loughs
- Belfast LoughBelfast LoughBelfast Lough is a large, natural intertidal sea lough at the mouth of the River Lagan on the east coast of Northern Ireland. The inner part of the lough comprises a series of mudflats and lagoons. The outer lough is restricted to mainly rocky shores with some small sandy bays...
, between County Antrim and County Down* - Strangford LoughStrangford LoughStrangford Lough, sometimes Strangford Loch, is a large sea loch or inlet in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is separated from the Irish Sea by the Ards Peninsula. The name Strangford is derived ; describing the fast-flowing narrows at its mouth...
, County Down* - Lough FoyleLough FoyleLough Foyle, sometimes Loch Foyle , is the estuary of the River Foyle in Ulster. It starts where the Foyle leaves Derry. It separates the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland from County Londonderry in Northern Ireland.-Transport:...
, between County Donegal and County Londonderry* - Galway BayGalway BayGalway Bay is a large bay on the west coast of Ireland, between County Galway in the province of Connacht to the north and the Burren in County Clare in the province of Munster to the south. Galway city is located on the northeast side of the bay. It is about long and from to in breadth...
, County Galway - Lough HyneLough HyneLough Hyne is a marine lake in West Cork, Ireland, about 5 km southwest of Skibbereen. It was designated as Ireland's first Marine Nature Reserve in 1981....
, County Cork - Larne LoughLarne LoughLarne Lough is a sea lough or inlet in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The lough lies between Islandmagee and the mainland. At its mouth is the town of Larne...
, County Antrim* - Lough Mahon, County Cork
- Shannon EstuaryShannon EstuaryThe Shannon Estuary is a large estuary where the River Shannon flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The estuary has Limerick at its head and its seaward limits are marked by Loop Head to the north and Kerry Head to the south...
, Munster - Tralee BayTralee BayTralee Bay is located in on the west coast of County Kerry, Ireland. It is situated between Kerry Head on the north side and the Maharees on the west and extends eastwards as far as the bridge at Blennerville. Several small rivers feed into the bay through the town of Tralee...
, County Kerry - Waterford HarbourWaterford HarbourWaterford Harbour is a natural harbour at the mouth of the Three Sisters; the River Nore, the River Suir and the River Barrow in Ireland. It is navigable for shipping to both Waterford and New Ross. The Port of Waterford is capable of accommodating vessels up to 32,000 tons dwt...
, County Waterford - Wexford HarbourWexford HarbourWexford Harbour in County Wexford, Ireland is the natural harbour at the mouth of the River Slaney. The estuary originally was about ten miles wide at its widest point, with large mud flats on both sides. These were known as the North Slob and the South Slob from the Irish word slab, meaning mud...
, County Wexford
Fjords
- Carlingford LoughCarlingford LoughCarlingford Lough is a glacial fjord or sea inlet that forms part of the border between Northern Ireland to the north and the Republic of Ireland to the south. On its northern shore is County Down and on its southern shore is County Louth...
, between County Louth and County Down* - Lough SwillyLough SwillyLough Swilly in Ireland is a glacial fjord or sea inlet lying between the western side of the Inishowen Peninsula and the Fanad Peninsula, in County Donegal. Along with Carlingford Lough and Killary Harbour it is one of three known glacial fjords in Ireland....
, County Donegal - Killary HarbourKillary HarbourKillary Harbour/An Caoláire Rua is a fjord located in the West of Ireland in the heart of Connemara which forms a natural border between counties Galway and Mayo. It is 16 kilometres long and in the centre over 45 metres deep...
, between County Mayo & County Galway
Reservoirs
- Poulaphouca ReservoirPoulaphouca ReservoirPoulaphouca Reservoir, officially Pollaphuca , is an active reservoir and area of wild bird conservation in west County Wicklow, Ireland...
, County Wicklow - Silent Valley ReservoirSilent Valley ReservoirThe Silent Valley Reservoir is a reservoir located in the Mourne Mountains near Kilkeel, County Down in Northern Ireland. It supplies most of the water for County Down, surrounding counties and most of Belfast. It is owned and maintained by Northern Ireland Water Limited...
, County Down* - Spelga ReservoirSpelga ReservoirSpelga Reservoir is a reservoir in the townland of Spelga in the Mourne Mountains of County Down, Northern Ireland. It was formed by the Spelga Dam and sits at over above sea level....
, County Down* - Vartry ReservoirVartry ReservoirVartry Reservoir is a reservoir at Roundwood in County Wicklow, Ireland. The water is piped from Vartry to a large open service reservoir in Stillorgan in the southern suburbs of Dublin. The reservoir is operated by Dublin City Council....
, County Wicklow
See also
- Rivers of IrelandRivers of IrelandThe longest river in Ireland is the The longest river in [[Ireland]] is the The longest river in [[Ireland]] is the [[River Shannon, 386 km . The river develops into three lakes along its course, [[Lough Allen]], [[Lough Ree]] and [[Lough Derg |Lough Derg]]. Of these, Lough Derg is the...
- List of rivers in Ireland
- List of loughs of County Mayo