Lower Lough MacNean

Infobox lake
lake_name = Lower Lough MacNean
image_lake = Lower_Lough_MacNean.jpg
caption_lake = looking towards Jinny's Island
image_bathymetry =
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location = County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
coords = coord|54|17|20|N|7|50|0|W|type:waterbody_region:GB|display=inline,title
type = lough
inflow =
outflow = Arney River
catchment =
basin_countries = United Kingdom
length =
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islands = Cushrush Island, Jinny's Island
cities =
frozen =

Lower Lough MacNean is a large, freshwater lake in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The river is fed by a small river which flows from Upper Lough MacNean into the lake at a bridging point near the village of Belcoo. The lake then empties into the Arney River.

The lake contains two islands, Cushrush Island is the larger of these and it has been extensively farmed, there is also Inishee or 'Jinny's' Island which is smaller and is completely forested. A causeway was built out to Cushrush Island in the 1960's to allow animals to be moved more easily out to the land on the island.

Cushrush Island appears to have been inhabited since the Mesolithic period as there have been many deposits of microlithic flint tools found upon the Island.

The shape of Lough MacNean was changed dramatically during the 1960's when a major draining operation took place, the lake was used for Eel fishing before this but dredging during the drainage process decimated their numbers.

References

External link

*Northern Ireland Environment Agency: [http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/landscape/country_landscape/5.htm The Lough Macnean Valley]