Lough Rea (Irish: Loch Riach),[2] also Loughrea Lake, is a lake in Ireland, located south of Loughrea, County Galway.[3]
| Lough Rea | |
|---|---|
| Loch Riach (Irish) | |
 Aerial view over Loughrea town towards the lake. | |
  Lough Rea Location in Ireland | |
| Location | County Galway, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°11′23″N 8°34′35″W / 53.189684°N 8.576302°W |
| Lake type | natural freshwater lough |
| Primary outflows | Loughrea River Town Moat |
| Basin countries | Ireland |
| Max. length | 2.61 km (1.62 mi) |
| Max. width | 1.68 km (1.04 mi) |
| Surface area | 3.01 km2 (1.16 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | 81 m (266 ft) |
| Islands | Ash Island, Shore Island, Blake's Island, Barrack Island, Middle Island, Long Island, Switch Island, Stone Island North, Stone Islands South, Island McCoo |
| Settlements | Loughrea |
| References | [1] |
Wildlife
editLough Rea is stocked with three-spined stickleback, ninespine stickleback, eel, perch, brown trout, rudd and pike.[4]
In folklore
editIn 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.[citation needed]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "A Reference Based Typology and Ecological Assessment System for Irish Lakes" (PDF). Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland). 2006. p. 19. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Out and About". Slieve Aughty Centre.
- ^ 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.
- ^ James MacKillop, A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, 68.