- Lough Lene
Infobox lake
lake_name = Lough Lene
image_lake = lough-lene1.jpg
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location =north Westmeath
coords = coord|53|39|53|N|7|14|13|W|region:IE_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
type =glacial lake
inflow =
outflow =
catchment =
basin_countries =Ireland
length =
width =
area = 5km²
depth =
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = 97metre s
islands = Nun's Island, Castle Island, Turgesius Island
cities =
frozen = winters of 1951 & 1982Lough Lene is situated in
north Westmeath (Irish: "Iarmhí ") between thevillage s ofCastlepollard ,Collinstown and Fore.It possesses a rich and variedhistory . It also boasts the existence of prehistoricburial site s, old ruins, many ancient village-type communal circulardwelling s locally calledringforts ,stile s, andmass path s. Lough Lene also has claims to being the home to kings andViking s, such asTurgesius who had one of hisfort s upon thehill on thesouthwest overlooking thelake from theRanaghan side, before being killed byMáel Sechnaill mac Maíl Ruanaid .Legend & Historical
The name of the lake has appeared in a variety of ways including Lane, Léin and Leibhinn. Sir
Henry Piers believed the lake's name translated as Lake of Learning, tying in with his translation of Fore as the Town of Books. However, other sources seem more inclined to the tradition that the lake was named after the daughter of the fabledMannanan Mac Lir (seeChildren of Lir ).The lake is described in
Lewis's Topographical as being an irregularoval shape, possibly 3.2km (2mile s) long by 1.7 km (1 mile) broad. Afreshwater lake, most sources focus on the clarity of the water, with the term "gin clear" being used frequently to describe it. It sits approximately 97 [metre] s (312ft ) abovesea level and covers approximately 500hectare s. It plays a vital part in local life from being thewater supply for Collinstown to playing an essential part in the social, historical and recreational life of the area.Nun's Island on Lough Lene was once the site of a
convent . Baile na gCailleach, the old Irish name for the town of Collinstown, when translated means "the town of theveil edwomen , or "the town of the oldhag s". This was an irreverent name which referred to the nuns of the convent on the island.The two other islands are Castle Island, and
Turgesius Island . [http://www.ncte.ie/viking/colm2.htm] An ancient bell was found on Castle Island in 1881 and is now in theNational Museum of Ireland . A half size reproduction of the ancient bell was presented toDáil Éireann in 1931 by the widow of a former member of the House, Bryan Cooper, and it has since been the bell of theCeann Comhairle (Chairperson) of Dáil Éireann. [http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/tour/kildare06.asp]A survey revealed that Nun's Island was a complex
stone structure withcauseway -like features, while Castle Island showed the best potential, with a large assemblage of workedtimber s. Twologboat s were also recovered in 1968, one withdovetail joint s. This work continues today [http://www.askaboutireland.ie/image_large?asset_id=7657] . These Roman-period log-boats were constructed for lakefishing , and were about 8m long, 1.5m wide, and 80centimetre s deep, were made ofoak ,yew , and possiblywillow . The boats werepaddle propelled. Other notable constructional features are that they were complex boats:carve d;dugout (extended);mortice-and-tenon ; and sewn.Recent Times
In more recent times, since the
Republic of Ireland joined theEuropean Union , Lough Lene is also known as the first freshwater lake to obtain aBlue Flag for itspollution -free water. This has been allocated with remarkable regularity to Lough Lene due to the surroundingagricultural communities’ commitment to preserving this water resource and habitat forfish andwildlife by careful management ofeffluent from theirfarm s. Lough Lene's clear water also acts as a reservoir for many surrounding villages. Collinstown, Richardstown and Glenidan have come together to form a successfulGAA club called theLough Lene Gaels [http://www.geocities.com/loughlenegaels] .Water sport Activities
Swimming ,sailing and windsurfing are popular. Dressing-rooms and picnic areas are available totourist s at the point locally referred to as "the Cut" about 2km north from the Collinstown cross-roads. "The Cut" [http://mapage.noos.fr/lough-lene/images/lough-lene3.jpg] is situated on theeast end of the lake.Jet-ski s andwater-skiing are prohibited on Lough Lene.pecial Areas of Conservation
The European Union's
Habitats Directive (92/43EEC) requiresmember states of the EU to protect wildlife areas. TheEuropean Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1977 , as amended, implements the directive in the Republic.Lough Lene is a deep lake as it plunges to 20m max. in certain parts. It is a clear
hard water lake withmarl deposition particularly noticeable along long stretches of itsshore s.
The lake supports a range ofpondweed s that include "potamogeton perfoliatatus " and p. lucens, "Canadian pondweed ", "(elodea canadensis )", and a variety ofstonewort s "(chara spp.)" such as "(C. pedunculata)" and "(c. curta)" which are marl or hard-water lake indicators.
A stony shore line fringes much of the lake, where there arespecies such as spike-rush ""(Eleocharis sp.)" jointed rush "(Polygonum persicaria)",marsh pennywort , "(hydrocotyle vulgaris)" and seges "carex spp" are found. A narrow fringe of emigerent pland species dominated by common reed "(phragmites austrailis)" and common club-rush "(schoenoplectus lacustris)" occures along some stretches of the lakeshore.
Patches of wetwoodland colonise former areas of cut-away and other low-lying areas close to the lake and are dominated by willows "(salix spp.)",birch "(betula sp)" andalder "(alnus glutinosa )" with patches ofcommon reed also occurring. These areas support a richflora . The ground flora of the wood at the northwestern end of the lake supports a range of "sphagnum moss es",bilberry "(vaccinium myrtillus )" andheather "(Calluna vulgaris)".Alder carr occurs on thejuttland into the lake at its northwestern side.
Freshwater marsh/fen vegetation , with such species aspurple moor-grass "Molina careula ",bottle sedge "Carex rostata , black bog-rushschoenus nigricans , and marsh minquefoilpotentilla palustris , occurs in certain areas near the lake; one such area supports a population of rare round-leaved wintergreen (pyrola rotundifolia subsp. rotundifolia).Bird Life
There are on Lough Lene many bird species, in particular,
Mute Swan ,Teal ,Pochard , Great-crested Grebe,Little Grebe ,Tufted Duck , GreyHeron ,Water Rrail ,Mallard ,Golden Eye ,Cormorant andWigeon . Upon the surrounding lands are inhabited bySnipe ,Lapwing andCurlew . Of particular significance is thePochard population which, in the winters of 1995/1996 and 1996/1997, there were of national importance averaging 515 individual birds of this population.
Much of the lake shore is accessible to grazingcattle ,goats ,sheep andhorse s. Unpolluted hard-water lakes such as Lough Lene are becoming increasingly rare in Ireland and in Europe and are of a type that is listed upon the Annex of the E.U. Habitat Directive.Crayfish
Lough Lene had a notable population of fresh water crayfish, a species that is listed on Annex II of the E.U. Habitats Directive. This species disappeared from Lough Lene in 1987 following an outbreak of crayfish fungus plague. The species was re-introduced and breeding was recorded in 1995. Since then, a further outbreak of the crayfish fungus plague has once again led to the disappearance of the species from Lough Lene.
External links and references
* [http://www.westmeathcoco.ie Westmeath County Council information;laws, etc]
* [http://www.osi.ie Ordenance Survey of Ireland (maps no. 41 and no.42)]
* [http://www.ncte.ie/viking/colm2.htm Viking Ireland Network school project]
* [http://www.askaboutireland.ie/image_large?asset_id=7657 Lough Lene Monks Boat]
* [http://www.askaboutireland.ie/show_narrative_page.do?page_id=4070 Associated L.Lene boat text]
* [http://www.geocities.com/loughlenegaels Lough Lene Gaels]
* [http://www.lough-lene.eu Community pages]
* [http://www.iol.ie/wmeathtc/carr/images/VIEW.jpgThe Cut, Lough Lene]
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