Lough Rea

Lough Rea (Irish: Loch Riach),[2] also Loughrea Lake, is a lake in Ireland, located south of Loughrea, County Galway.[3]

Lough Rea
Aerial view over Loughrea town towards the lake.
Lough Rea is located in Ireland
Lough Rea
Lough Rea
Location in Ireland
LocationCounty Galway, Ireland
Coordinates53.189684°N 8.576302°W / 53.189684; -8.576302
Lake typenatural freshwater lough
Native nameLoch Riach (Irish)
Primary outflowsLoughrea River Town Moat
Basin countriesIreland
Max. length2.61 km (1.62 mi)
Max. width1.68 km (1.04 mi)
Surface area3.01 km2 (1.16 sq mi)
Surface elevation81 m (266 ft)
IslandsAsh Island, Shore Island, Blake's Island, Barrack Island, Middle Island, Long Island, Switch Island, Stone Island North, Stone Islands South, Island McCoo
SettlementsLoughrea
References[1]

Wildlife

Lough Rea is stocked with three-spined stickleback, ninespine stickleback, eel, perch, brown trout, rudd and pike.[4]

In folklore

In the tradition of other Dindsenchas myths, according to Irish tradition, Lough Rea was formed after a battle fought between pre-Christian deities, who took the form of deer. The force of their battle causing a well to burst and the lake to form.[5]

Another popular piece of folklore says that there was once a town where the lake is today, but the town was submerged underneath the water.

See also

References

  1. "A Reference Based Typology and Ecological Assessment System for Irish Lakes" (PDF). Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland). 2006. p. 19. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  2. "Lough Rea/Loch Riach". Placenames Database of Ireland (logainm.ie). Government of Ireland - Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Dublin City University. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  3. "Out and About". Slieve Aughty Centre.
  4. Kelly, F.L.; Connor, L.; Morrissey, E.; Coyne, J.; Matson, R.; Feeney, R.; Rocks, K. (2014). "Water Framework Directive Fish Stock Survey of Lough Rea, July 2013" (PDF). Dublin: Inland Fisheries Ireland.
  5. James MacKillop, A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, 68.
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