| Lough Corrib | |
|---|---|
| Loch Coirib (Irish) | |
 View on Lough Corrib, south ofClonbur | |
  Lough Corrib Location of Lough Corrib in Ireland | |
| Location | Connacht |
| Coordinates | 53°26′N9°14′W / 53.433°N 9.233°W /53.433; -9.233 |
| Primary inflows | |
| Primary outflows | River Corrib |
| Catchment area | 3,112 km2 (1,202 sq mi)[1] |
| Basin countries | Ireland |
| Max. length | 43.5 km (27.0 mi) |
| Max. width | 16.1 km (10.0 mi) |
| Surface area | 176 km2 (68 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 6.5 m (21 ft)[2] |
| Max. depth | 50.9 m (167 ft)[3] |
| Designated | 7 June 1996 |
| Reference no. | 846[4] |
Lough Corrib (/lɒxˈkɒrɪb/lokhKORR-ib;Irish:Loch Coirib[5]) is alake in the west of Ireland. TheRiver Corrib or Galway River connects the lake to the sea atGalway. It is the largest lake within theRepublic of Ireland and the second largest on theisland of Ireland (afterLough Neagh). It covers 176 km² and lies mostly inCounty Galway with a small area of its northeast corner inCounty Mayo.
The firstcanal on the island of Ireland was cut in the 12th century. Known as the Friar's Cut, it allowed boats to pass from Lough Corrib to the sea at Galway.[6]
Lough Corrib was designated aRamsar site on 16 June 1996. It has also been designated aSpecial Area of Conservation.
Loch Coirib is a corruption of |Loch Oirbsean. According to placename lore, this refers toOirbsen orOirbsiu—another name for theTuatha Dé Danann figureManannán mac Lir—who is believed to have been a god of the sea. In Irish, the lough is also calledAn Choirib ("the Corrib").[citation needed]
Surveys have been undertaken since 2007 by a local surveyor/cartographer to create up-to-date charts of Lough Corrib.[7] These have uncovered a number of objects of historical significance, which have been investigated by theUnderwater Archaeology Unit of theNational Monuments Service.[8] These include Bronze Age and Iron Age vessels (dugout canoes), the "Annaghkeen Boat" being 40 ft in length and intricately carved,[9] the "Carrowmoreknock Boat", a well preserved 10th century vessel carrying threeVikingbattle axes,[10] and the wreck of a Victorian pleasure yacht. The lake is hence of international importance as a marine archaeological site.[citation needed] All historic wrecks in the lough are protected, and a licence to dive them is required from the National Monuments Service.[11]
The wildlife in Lough Corrib includes birds and hawks, otters, mink, stoat, frogs, and bats. Lough Corrib can be divided into two parts: a smaller shallower basin to the south and a larger deeper basin to the north. These two parts are connected by a narrow channel. In the southern and eastern parts of the lake, the lake bed is dominated by limestone bedrock covered by deposits of precipitated marl. The surrounding land is mostly pastoral farmland to the south and east and bog to the west and north. In addition to the lake basis, some areas of scientific interest adjoining the lake, e.g. woodland, callows grassland andraised bog, have been incorporated into the Special Area of Conservation.[citation needed]
In early 2007, large numbers of the protozoan parasiteCryptosporidium were detected in water from the lake, leading to contamination of the public water supply inGalway city and an outbreak ofcryptosporidiosis. Another unwelcome visitor is the invasive speciesLagarosiphon major (also known as 'curly-leaved waterweed' or 'South African pondweed') which is destroying fish habitat and thezebra mussel.[citation needed]
On 21 March 2007,Cryptosporidium was confirmed to be present in thedrinking water ofGalway City,Moycullen,Oughterard andHeadford, which had been instructed six days earlier to boil their water before drinking. The water taken from Lough Corrib was likely contaminated by migration of animal and humanfaeces. Controversy emerged when it was revealed that funds previously earmarked to improve Galway's water system had not been spent.Dick Roche, the Minister of the Environment, later announced allocation of additional funds to tackle the issue.[12] Measures included upgrading existing water treatment and filtration systems, as well as the projected importing of water from nearby Luimnagh,Tuam, County Galway. This plant at Luimnagh has facilities forCryptosporidium eradication and filtration.[13]
The Community Care Organisation, Cope, delivered bottled water to their elderly clients from 30 March 2007.[14] A lobby group was formed in April 2007 to highlight the issue.[15]
While Lough Corrib is reputed to have 365 islands, a recent figure from the creator of the charts of the lake is 1,327.[16] These islands include Inchagoil Island, midway betweenCong andOughterard. It is one of the largest of the wooded islands along Lough Corrib. The island has views of the Maumturk range,Joyce Country and the mountains ofConnemara. There are some beaches and woods with walks around the island. There is evidence of an early monastic settlement, and two churches -Saint Patrick's and the 12th century church known as the "saints" church. St. Brendan of Clonfert is also said to have spent some time on an island in this lake after returning from his travels in Britain. There are several paths around the island, an old cemetery and remains of four or five cottages which housed the few inhabitants.
Another lake island is Caislean-na-Circe, between Maam and Doon. This section of Lough Corrib is free from islands except for the rock on which the ancientHen's Castle of the O'Connor's and the O'Flaherty's stands. The castle was home of the pirate QueenGráinne O'Malley, who lived in the time of QueenElizabeth I of England. In 1225, the Lord Justice caused Odo O'Flatherty to give up Kirk Castle to Odo O'Connor, King of Connaught; for assurance of his fidelity. Cruises on the lough depart fromCong, Ashford Castle, Galway City, and Oughterard.[17][18]
Paul Féval's novelLa Quittance de minuit (1846) is set inCounty Galway, near Lough Corrib.
William Wilde, father ofOscar Wilde, wrote a book about the lake,Lough Corrib, its Shores and Islands (1867).[19] He built asummerhouse on the banks of the lake, called Moytura House.[citation needed]
The Irish Times states that "the unspoilt countryside around Lough Corrib provided the inspiration" forThe Hounds of the Morrigan, a children's novel byPat O'Shea.[20]
SeeAnnals of Inisfallen (AI)
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| National | |
