Lough Derravaragh

Infobox lake
lake_name = Lough Derravaragh
"Loch Dairbhreach"
image_lake =Knockeyon_Deravaragh_07_08_2007.jpg
caption_lake = Lough Derravaragh viewed from
Knockeyon summit
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location = County Westmeath
coords = coord|53|38|0|N|7|21|0|W|region:IE_type:waterbody_scale:100000|display=inline,title
type =
inflow = River Inny
outflow = River Inny
catchment =
basin_countries = Ireland
length =
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max-depth =
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Lough Derravaragh (Irish: "Loch Dairbhreach" ) is an Irish lough (lake) in County Westmeath, Ireland, north of Mullingar between, Castlepollard, Collinstown, Crookedwood and Multyfarnham. Knockeyon, 214 m high, one of the highest points in Westmeath, situated on the lake shore at the south-east end, dominates the surrounding countryside.

Lough Derravaragh sits on the River Inny which flows from Lough Sheelin on its way to the River Shannon. Shaped somewhat like Italy, it is a popular lake for angling and other watersports. The main public area is at Donore near Multyfarnham, where there is a caravan park and shop restaurant open in summer.

Legend

Lough Derravaragh is best known for its connection with the Irish legend of the Children of Lir (Irish: "Oidheadh Chlainne Lir"). According to the legend, after being turned into swans, the four children of King Lir spent 300 years on Lough Derravaragh before moving to the straights of Moyle for 300 years, (between Ireland and Scotland), 300 years on the Atlantic by Erris and Innisglory. The enchantment would end, when a woman from the south would mate a man from the north.

To the east, of Lough Derravaragh, within the hills of Ranaghan, are stone-age period ringforts.

Turgesius the Viking, renowned for taking Dublin, also possessed strongholds nearby, south west of Lough Lene.

Historic

Knockeyon or the hill of St Eyon is located on the southern left-hand shore, rising steeply to seven hundred feet.

Situated half way up the slope of the hill, there remains the ruins of an ancient, St Cauragh chapel, built and dedicated to St Eyon. The chapel was cut out of the natural rock, believed to have never possessed a roof. Adjacent to this chapel are the ruins of St Cauragh's Well, it's waters were supposed be miraculous.

From generation to generation, legend tells that St Cauragh was expelled by St Columbcille from the Kells monastery, for breach of discipline. Consequently, he wandered throughout the countryside until he eventually arrived at Knockeyon. This location, far away from the eyes of the world, saint Cauragh desired to pass the remainder of his life praying to God and fasting. He became seriously ill, at a later stage, and was dieing when he prayed to God for a drop of water to quench his thirst. Having prayed for some time, he became aware by the sound of water trickling out of the rock above his head. He put out his hand and drank freely of this miraculous water. He was as a result cured, and it was successive to this miracle that he built the chapel.

During the Middle Ages, thousands of people visited this well on the first Sunday of harvest, undertaking the pilgrimage up the hill barefoot, on what became known as " Cauragh Sunday ". When the pilgrimage concluded, everyone present adjourned to a green area at the foot of the hill where musicians played Fleadh Cheoil and everyone spent the remainder of the day picnicking, drinking and dancing.

On the Kiltoom side of the lough mounds of stone can be found, these were part of artificial islands and gave protection to the people who lived in Crannogs on these islands. In the 1970s a dug-out canoe from the stone age was recovered from the lake by employees of the Tullynally estate.

Lough Derravaragh, National Habitat Area

Lough Derravaragh is located approximately km north of Mullingar essentially surrounded by the communities of Clonva, Derrya, Kiltoom, Donore, Ballynakill, Streamstown and Knockbody in the north of County Westmeath. Most of this site comprises the lake, but also it includes a variety of wetland, grassland, and woodland habitats. The site includes a small area of raised bog. The site is bound in the north-west by the River Inny.

The Inny, which is a major tributary of the River Shannon, flows into and from Lough Derravaragh at it north-west side. On this side, the lake is wide and shallow and raised bog and cutover is found within the immediate surrounding area. Lough Derravaragh is shallow and it water is "hard" and alkaline pH. There is only a small area of raised bog on the side, but formerly it comprised a very large bog complex which extended towards the north -west of the lake. Most of this area has now been cutover and large areas have been reclaimed for agriculture. The remaining area of bog has hummock/hollow complexes but no water pools. Coniferous forestry has been planted upon the high bog and a section of cutover. Cutover is found dispersed around the high bog areas and there is also a separate small area of old cutover (about km) south of this raised bog.

Much of the high bog possesses vegetation typical of an Irish Midland raised bog, with such species as Ling Heather Calluna vulgaris and Hare's tail Cottongrass Eriophorum vaginatum. The hummock-forming bog moss, Sphagnum papillosum has been recorded situated around one third of the high bog as ha the more scarce Sphagnum imbricatum. Overall, Sphagnum covers around one third of the high bog area and centre of the bog is wet with stagnant water in places. The aquatic bog moss Sphagnum cuspidatum has been recorded in the hallows of the bog. There are dried out channels of the bog which are colonised by algae, Deergrass, Scirpus cespitosus and lichens. Coniferous forestry has been planted on the western side of the high bog and on adjoining areas of cutover. On the cutover in the south-east side of the lake there are areas of Downy Birch, Betula pubescens woodland, with patches of GorseUlex europaeus

A notable feature of Lough Derravaragh, as found at Lough Lene, are the range of Stoneworts, Charophytes that occur within the lake. To date eight species have been recorded here, several of which have a restricted range in Ireland. Fringing the lakes' shores a range of habitats have been created as a result of drainage of the River Inny At the western side are extensive reed beds and swamps of Downy Birch and willows Salix spp. Within proximity, there is also freshwater marches vegetation dominated by sedges Carlex spp. and often tussock- forming grasses such as Tufted Hair-grass Deschampsia cespitosa and fescues Festuca spp, with a flowering herbs including Bur-Marigold Bidens cernua, and Trifid Bur-Marigold Bidens tripartita.

The lake shore is a mineral rich substrate and several plant species of poor fen habitats occur in abundance, such as Black Bog rush Schoenus nigricans and long-stalked Yellow-sedge Carlex lepidocarpa.

Three of the Greenland geese species which roost at these sites are listed on the Annex 1 of the E.U. Birds Directive. The rare Charophyte Chara denundata, has been recorded in the area and the Red Data Book species Otter and Irish Hare have also been observed within the lake district area of North Westmeath.

Water sport activities

Local groups use the lake canoeing and other water associated activities. As in Lough Ennell, Lough Owel, and Lough Lene, the lake acts as an important amenity for anglers, as it sustains a population of brown trout.

External links

* [http://www.askaboutireland.ie/image_large?asset_id=1644 Knockdrin Castle]
* [http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/claremuseum/acquisitions/medal_all_ireland_fleadh.htm Fleadh Ceol]