Loch Na Fooey

Loch Na Fooey (Irish: Loch na Fuaiche, meaning 'lake of the fissure'),[2] also Loch Nafooey or Lough Nafooey, is a rectangular shaped glacial lake in County Galway, Ireland. Part of the north-eastern shore lies along the border to County Mayo. The closest village is Finny, County Mayo with the County Galway village of Leenaun approximately 11 km distant.

Lough Nafooey

Loch Na Fooey
Viewed from Mayo on the R300
Location in Ireland
Location	County Galway
Coordinates	53°34′40″N 9°32′53″W
Type	Glacial lake
Native name	Loch na Fuaiche (Irish)
Primary inflows	River Fooey
Primary outflows	Finny River
Basin countries	Ireland
Max. length	2.5 mi (4.0 km)
Max. width	0.5 mi (0.80 km)
Surface area	2.48 km2 (0.96 sq mi)
Surface elevation	25 m (82 ft)
Islands	Red Island (An tOileán Rua)
Settlements	Finny, Leenaun
References	[1]

At approximately 2.5 miles long and 0.5 miles wide, Loch Na Fooey is set in a steep-sided valley, surrounded by the mountains of Galway to the south and Mayo's Partry Mountains to the north. A number of rivers feed the lake, including the River Fooey (Irish: Abhainn na Fuaiche), which rises from the Devil’s Mother mountain and enters the lake at the western shore. The Finny River, rising from the south-east of the lake drains into the southwest part of Lough Mask. Also many mountain streams flow into the lake. The lake has a small sandy shore on its western end.

The area around Loch Na Fooey is known as the site of the ancient "Finny volcano" (490 million years ago), formed as the Iapetus Ocean closed to bring the two halves of Ireland together. The volcano's landform is now gone but some of volcanic rocks are preserved in the area, including pillow lavas, and breccia.[3]

There is a small funnel-shaped island close to the south-eastern shore known as Red Island (An tOileán Rua).

The waters hold a range of fish including wild brown trout and pike.

The locality has a number of walks, both for experienced hill walkers and others.[4] In folklore, the lake is said to be home to An Capall Uisce or the Water Horse, a mythical Celtic creature.[5]