Lough MacNean
Lough MacNean is a large freshwater lake at the meeting of three counties: Fermanagh in the United Kingdom and Counties Cavan and Leitrim in the Republic of Ireland.
The name of the lough is from the Irish language Loch Mac nÉan, meaning 'Mac nÉan's lake'.[1]
It is in two parts: Upper Lough MacNean and Lower Lough MacNean (or Lough Nilly).[1][2]
Lower Lough MacNean, the smaller, eastern lake, is wholly within Fermanagh. Upper Lough MacNean, the larger, western lake, is split between all three counties. On the strip of land between the two lakes are the villages of Belcoo (Fermanagh) and Blacklion (Cavan). A river runs between the villages, linking the eastern and western lakes.
The shape of Lough MacNean changed during the 1960s when a major draining operation took place; before this, the lake was used for eel fishing, but dredging during the drainage process devastated their numbers.
Islands
- Upper Lough MacNean
- Bilberry Island
- Garrow (or Buck) Islands
- Inishkeen
- Inishteig
- Kilrooskagh Island
- Patrick's Island
- Port Island
- Rosscorkey Island
- Trawnish
- Tuam Island
- Lower Lough MacNean
- Cushrush Island
- Inishee
Cushrush, Inishteig, Kilrooscagh and Rosscorkey are now connected to land by small bridges. Cushrush seems to have been inhabited since the Mesolithic period as many microlithic flint tools have been found there.
There are also the remains of two crannogs; one in each lake. These were small manmade (or partially manmade) islands used as dwellings in ancient times.
Outside links
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Placenames Database of Ireland
- ↑ The English Cyclopedia 1867 Page 498 " ... and is connected by a short stream about half a mile in length with Lough Nitty (sometimes called Lower Lough Macnean), .."