Lough Derravaragh

Derravaragh Lough (Irish Loch Dairbhreach ) is a lake in County Westmeath in the Republic of Ireland.

General

The lake is located north of Mullingar, between the villages of Castlepollard, Collinstown, Crookedwood and Multyfarnham. At the southeastern lake shore is the Knockeyon, with 214 meters one of the highest elevations of Westmeath. The inflow and outflow is the River Inny, which comes from the Lough Sheelin and continues to flow to the Shannon.

Lough Derravaragh is a National Habitat Area ( nature reserve) of Ireland. Due to the extensive moorland on its banks and the mineral-rich water is great biodiversity of flora and fauna exists. The lake is a center of sport fishing for trout and other water sports ( canoeing).

To the east of the lake, in the hills of Ranaghan to ring forts are from the Stone Age.

Legend

In the story Oidheadh ​​Chlainne Lir ( "The history of children Lir " ) is reported that the four children of King Lir had to spend three hundred years as swans on Lough Derravaragh, then another 300 years, and in the waters of the Straits of Moyle between Ireland Scotland and finally another 300 years on the Atlantic before they are redeemed.