Lough Ennell
Encyclopedia
Lough 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 (7 km) long by 2 miles (3 km) wide, with an area of about 3540 acres (14.3 km²). It has a huge area of shallow water with nearly two-thirds of its area being less than 25 feet (8 m) and almost half of it being under 10 ft (3 m) deep. Lough Ennell produced Ireland's largest ever lake brown trout
at 26 lbs (11.8 kg). Lough Ennell is dotted with islands, many of which have now become attached to the shoreline as the levels of the lake have changed. The main river flowing into Lough Ennell is the River Brosna
, which enters on the Mullingar side of the lake and exits on the opposite side at Lilliput. Lilliput and Lilliput House were frequently used by Jonathan Swift
as a holiday home and place to write, local tradition states that Jonathan Swift
was in a boat on the lake when he looked back at Lilliput and noticed how small the people looked at that distance, hence the inspiration for his most famous book Gulliver's Travels
. Lilliput at the time was called "Nure" however after the publication of Gulliver's Travels
locals began to refer to the lakeshore as Lilliput, the name stuck and today the area is known as Lilliput.
derive their names from two brothers, Ainninn and Vair who lived at the lakes. They were sons of the Kings of the Fir Bolg
, and it was at their respective lakes that Ainninn and Uair died giving the lakes their names. Over the years the name became anglicised to Lough Inill. In maps the name became Lough Ennell, Lough Enyn or Lough Enyll. When the Rochforts took the title as Lords of Belvedere they tried to change the name Lough Ennell to Lake Belvedere.
are the main catches.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
near the town of Mullingar
Mullingar
Mullingar is the county town of County Westmeath in Ireland. The Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act of 1542, proclaimed Westmeath a county, separating it from Meath. Mullingar became the administrative centre for County Westmeath...
, County Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
, 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,...
. It is situated beside the N52 road
N52 road (Ireland)
The N52 road is a national secondary road in Ireland. It links the M7 motorway from just south of Nenagh, County Tipperary to the M1 motorway north of Dundalk in County Louth.The road is long.-Quality of Road:...
, off the Mullingar/Kilbeggan
Kilbeggan
-Geography:Kilbeggan is situated on the River Brosna, in the south of County Westmeath. It lies southeast of Lough Ennell, north of the boundary with County Offaly, about 9 kilometres north of Tullamore. Kilbeggan is surrounded by the gently rolling Esker Riada, the linear sand hills that stretch...
road. It is approximately 4.5 miles (7 km) long by 2 miles (3 km) wide, with an area of about 3540 acres (14.3 km²). It has a huge area of shallow water with nearly two-thirds of its area being less than 25 feet (8 m) and almost half of it being under 10 ft (3 m) deep. Lough Ennell produced Ireland's largest ever lake brown trout
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
at 26 lbs (11.8 kg). Lough Ennell is dotted with islands, many of which have now become attached to the shoreline as the levels of the lake have changed. The main river flowing into Lough Ennell is the River Brosna
River Brosna
The River Brosna is a river in Ireland, flowing through County Westmeath and County Offaly.The river rises in Lough Owel north of Mullingar and is a tributary of the River Shannon. It meets the Shannon at Shannon Harbour.-Course:...
, which enters on the Mullingar side of the lake and exits on the opposite side at Lilliput. Lilliput and Lilliput House were frequently used by Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
as a holiday home and place to write, local tradition states that Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
was in a boat on the lake when he looked back at Lilliput and noticed how small the people looked at that distance, hence the inspiration for his most famous book Gulliver's Travels
Gulliver's Travels
Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World, in Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships, better known simply as Gulliver's Travels , is a novel by Anglo-Irish writer and clergyman Jonathan Swift that is both a satire on human nature and a parody of...
. Lilliput at the time was called "Nure" however after the publication of Gulliver's Travels
Gulliver's Travels
Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World, in Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships, better known simply as Gulliver's Travels , is a novel by Anglo-Irish writer and clergyman Jonathan Swift that is both a satire on human nature and a parody of...
locals began to refer to the lakeshore as Lilliput, the name stuck and today the area is known as Lilliput.
Etymology
O'Donovan's Ordnance Survey Letters trace the beginnings of the name Lough Ennell, or as it is known in Irish Loch Ainninn. According to tradition the present day Lough Ennell and Lough OwelLough Owel
Lough 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...
derive their names from two brothers, Ainninn and Vair who lived at the lakes. They were sons of the Kings of the Fir Bolg
Fir Bolg
In Irish mythology the Fir Bolg were one of the races that inhabited the island of Ireland prior to the arrival of the Tuatha Dé Danann.-Mythology:...
, and it was at their respective lakes that Ainninn and Uair died giving the lakes their names. Over the years the name became anglicised to Lough Inill. In maps the name became Lough Ennell, Lough Enyn or Lough Enyll. When the Rochforts took the title as Lords of Belvedere they tried to change the name Lough Ennell to Lake Belvedere.
Facilities
The loughside has a caravan and camping park, boat hire facilities, hotels and restaurants and a fishery.Angling
Lough Ennell fishery is part of the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board's Midland Fisheries Group of managed waters. Brown trout and pikeEsox
Esox is a genus of freshwater fish, the only living genus in the family Esocidae — the esocids which were endemic to North America, Europe and Eurasia during the Paleogene through present.The type species is E. lucius, the northern pike...
are the main catches.
Sport
- Westmeath County Council has banned the use of jet skiJet skiJet Ski is the brand name of a personal watercraft manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The name is sometimes mistakenly used by those unfamiliar with the personal watercraft industry to refer to any type of personal watercraft; however, the name is a valid trademark registered with the...
s on the lake. The prohibition came into effect in October 2006 and currently does not apply to speed boats. - The shores of Lough Ennell host Mullingar Golf Club, the local golf club to the north east of the lake.