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Lough Key
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{{Short description|Lake in Ireland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Use Irish English|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Lough Key | native_name ={{native name|ga|Loch Cé}} | image = Lough Key from Above 2010.jpg | caption = Lough Key and Castle Island | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = [[County Roscommon]] | coords = {{Coord|54|0|N|8|15|W|region:IE_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}} | type = | inflow = | pushpin_map = Island of Ireland | pushpin_label_position = none | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ireland | outflow = | catchment = | basin_countries = [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] | length = {{convert|5|km|mi}} | width = {{convert|3|km|mi}} | area = {{convert|843.7|ha|abbr=on}} | depth = {{convert|5.1|m|abbr=on}} | max-depth = {{convert|21.8|m|abbr=on}} | volume = {{convert|43|hm3|acre.ft|abbr=on}} | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = | islands = 32 (incl. Castle Island, Stag Island, Bullock Island, and Drumman's Island) | cities = }} '''Lough Key''' ({{langx|ga|Loch Cé}}) is a lake in Ireland. It is in the northwest of [[County Roscommon]], northeast of the town of [[Boyle, County Roscommon|Boyle]]. The [[lough]] is believed to be named after a mythical figure named Cé.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/gafm/gafm07.htm |title=Gods and Fighting Men: Part I Book III: The Great Battle of Magh Tuireadh |publisher=Sacred-texts.com |date= |accessdate=2011-04-09}}</ref> ==Name== The name ''Lough Key'' comes from the Irish ''Loch Cé''. In [[Irish mythology]], Cé was the [[druid]] of the god [[Nuada]]. He was wounded in the [[Second Battle of Mag Tuired]] and fled southward until he came to [[Curlew Mountains|Carn Corrslebe]], where he rested. He saw ahead of him a beautiful plain full of flowers. He sought to reach it, and when he did, he died. When his grave was dug there, a [[Lake-burst|lake burst]] out of it, and flooded the whole plain. It was thus named Loch Cé after him.<ref>[[Lady Gregory]] ''[[Gods and Fighting Men]]'' [http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/gafm/gafm07.htm]</ref> ==Geography== <!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:LoughKeyViewFromForest.jpg|thumb|View of the lake from the surrounding forest]] --> The lake is in the northern part of the [[River Shannon]] [[drainage basin]], and is fed by the [[Boyle River (Ireland)|Boyle River]] which flows from [[Lough Gara]], through the town of [[Boyle, County Roscommon|Boyle]], into Lough Key. From there it flows eastwards until it reaches the [[River Shannon]] just above [[Carrick-on-Shannon]]. Its area is {{convert|843.7|ha}} and its average depth is {{convert|5.1|m}}.<ref>NS Share [http://www.nsshare.com/publications/documents/Ecological%20Classification%20Tools/Hydromorphology%20Rivers_Lakes%20T1%20-%20A7/Lakes/Lake%20Hydromorphology%20Part%201%20Review%20of%20Existing%20Bathymetric%20Information%20for%20Lakes%20T1%20(A7b.1)%20–%201.0.pdf]{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Bathymetric Information for Lakes</ref> One can see a view of the lake from the [[N4 road (Ireland)|N4 road]] as it ascends the [[Curlew Mountains]] after bypassing Boyle. The view is enhanced by a modern steel sculpture of an Irish chieftain mounted on horseback (see photograph). ==Background== The area around Lough Key and the nearby town of Boyle, in County Roscommon, has been inhabited for thousands of years. The lake is several kilometres across and contains over thirty wooded islands including [[McDermott's Castle|Castle Island]], Trinity Island, Orchard Island, Stag Island, Bullock Island, and Drumman's Island. Castle Island has had a number of structures built on it over the centuries. The earliest record dates to 1184, in the [[Annals of Loch Cé]], where a lightning strike is reported to have started a fire in "The Rock of Loch-Cé," a "very magnificent, kingly residence." Currently [[McDermott's Castle|a folly castle]] built in the early 19th century by the King family stands on the island. [[Holy Trinity Abbey|Trinity]] and Church Islands each have the ruins of medieval [[priory|priories]] standing on them. ==17th-20th centuries== The King family acquired the land around Lough Key in the 17th century [[Cromwellian Settlement]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coillteoutdoors.ie/?id=53&rec_site=42 |title=Lough Key Forest Park | Recreation Sites | Coillte Outdoors |publisher=Coillteoutdoors.ie |date= |accessdate=2011-04-09}}</ref> renaming the area from [[Moylurg]] to Rockingham. In 1809, [[Rockingham Estate|Rockingham House]] – a mansion designed by English architect [[John Nash (architect)|John Nash]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.loughkey.ie/park_and_estates/history.html |title=History | Park and Estate | Lough Key Forest and Activity Park |publisher=Loughkey.ie |date= |accessdate=2011-04-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228025144/http://loughkey.ie/park_and_estates/history.html |archive-date=28 December 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> – was built. The house remained the seat of the Stafford-King-Harman family until it was badly damaged in a fire in 1957.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.woodlandleague.org/communities/loughkey/ |title=Lough Key |publisher=Woodlandleague.org |date=2004-12-09 |accessdate=2011-04-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217012159/http://www.woodlandleague.org/communities/loughkey/ |archive-date=17 December 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was subsequently demolished in 1970. ==Lough Key Forest Park== [[File:Moylurg tower, Lough Key, Roscommon.jpg|thumb|Moylurg tower, a viewing tower at the edge of Lough Key, Roscommon, Ireland. Built on the site of Rockingham House in 1973.]] Immediately to the south of the lough is [[Lough Key Forest Park]], a popular destination for recreational walkers. The park, opened in 1972,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arts-sport-tourism.gov.ie/publications/release.asp?ID=1248 |title=Speech by Minister O'Donoghue at the 'turning of the sod' ceremony in Lough Key Forest Park, Co. Roscommon |publisher=Arts-sport-tourism.gov.ie |date=2006-02-23 |accessdate=2011-04-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614061154/http://www.arts-sport-tourism.gov.ie/publications/release.asp?ID=1248 |archive-date=14 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> covers {{convert|865|acre|ha}} formerly part of the Rockingham estate. The [[Moylurg Tower]], a viewing tower built in 1973, stands on the site of the old Rockingham house overlooking the lake to the north and lawns to the south.<ref>{{cite web|title=1810 – Rockingham, Boyle, Co. Roscommon|url=http://archiseek.com/2012/1810-rockingham-boyle-co-roscommon/|website=Archiseek|accessdate=10 April 2017}}</ref> There are many amenities in the park including [http://www.loughkeyboats.com boat tours, boats for hire, water activities], camping and caravan park, an outdoor playground and shop. A 2007 development<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/press/pressreleases/2007/may/title,13477,en.html |title=Minister Coughlan opens Lough Key Forest and Activity Park |publisher= Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food - Agriculture.gov.ie |date=2007-05-15 |accessdate=2011-04-09}}</ref> added a number of new attractions including a forest canopy walkway and children's play areas, to cater to the "21st-century visitor".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.loughkey.ie/ |title=Home | Lough Key Forest and Activity Park |publisher=Loughkey.ie |date= |accessdate=2011-04-09}}</ref> Sir [[Cecil Stafford-King-Harman]] (1895–1987), second (and last) Baronet of Rockingham{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}, ensured that the land went back to the people of Ireland through the [[Irish Land Commission]], who subdivided the pasture land into several farms of approximately {{convert|50|acre|ha}} and granted these to local people. An extensive area around the then-derelict Rockingham house became the Forest Park and this was looked after by the Department of Forestry. It is currently in the care of [[Coillte]], a semi-state body. The park contains the remains of five [[ring fort]]s, giving evidence of the long habitation of this region. The area surrounding the lake is significant in medieval Irish literature and legend. Starting around 1000 AD, the [[Annals of Boyle]] were compiled on Trinity Island, and from 1253 to 1590 the [[Annals of Lough Cé|Annals of Lough Key]] continued from where the Boyle annals ended. Lough Key was also the site for the legend of Una Bháin. Famed harpist [[Turlough O'Carolan]] is buried at [[Ballyfarnon|Kilronan]], three miles (5 km) to the north of the lake. ==Annalistic references== From the [[Annals of the Four Masters]]: * ''M955.11 - The fleet of Fearghal, son of Art, upon Loch-Ce.'' ==See also== * [[List of loughs in Ireland]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==Gallery== <gallery> Image:LoughKey1769x.jpg File:LoughKeyBoathouse.jpg File:LoughKeyRoscommon.JPG </gallery> ==External links== *[http://www.loughkeyboats.com Lough Key Boats a family business that has been operating in the park since it was run by the Dept Of Forestry] *[http://www.coillteoutdoors.ie/?id=53&rec_site=42 Coillte Lough Key] *[http://www.loughkey.ie Lough Key Forest and Activity Park] {{Authority control}} [[Category:Lakes of County Roscommon|Key]]
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