Lough Lene
| Lough Lene Loch Léinn |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | County Westmeath |
| Coordinates | 53°39′53″N 7°14′13″W / 53.66472°N 7.23694°WCoordinates: 53°39′53″N 7°14′13″W / 53.66472°N 7.23694°W |
| Type | Glacial lake |
| Basin countries | Ireland |
| Surface area | 5 km2 (1.9 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | 97 m (318 ft) |
| Frozen | Winters of 1951, 1982, Jan & Dec. 2010 |
| Islands | Nun's Island, Castle Island, Turgesius Island |
Lough Lene (Irish: Loch Léinn) is a lake situated in north County Westmeath, Ireland, between the villages of Castlepollard, Collinstown and Fore.
It possesses a rich and varied history. It also boasts the existence of prehistoric burial sites, old ruins, many ancient village-type communal circular dwellings locally called ringforts, stiles, and mass paths. Lough Lene also has claims to being the home to kings and Vikings, such as Turgesius who had one of his forts upon the hill on the southwest overlooking the lake from the Ranaghan side, before being killed by Máel Sechnaill mac Maíl Ruanaid.
The name of the lake has appeared in a variety of ways including Lane, Léin and Leibhinn. Sir Henry Piers believed the lake's name translated as Lake of Learning, tying in with his translation of Fore as the Town of Books. However, other sources seem more inclined to the tradition that the lake was named after the daughter of the fabled Manannán mac Lir (see Children of Lir).
The lake is described in Lewis's Topographical as being an irregular oval shape, possibly 3.2 km (2.0 mi) long by 1.7 km (1.1 mi) broad. A freshwater lake, most sources focus on the clarity of the water, with the term "gin clear" being used frequently to describe it. It sits approximately 97 metres (312 ft) above sea level and covers approximately 500 hectares. It plays a vital part in local life from being the water supply for Collinstown to playing an essential part in the social, historical and recreational life of the area.
Nun's Island on Lough Lene was once the site of a convent. Baile na gCailleach, the old Irish name for the town of Collinstown, when translated means "the town of the veiled women, or "the town of the old hags". This was an irreverent name which referred to the nuns of the convent on the island.
...
Wikipedia