Lough Mask
| Lough Mask Loch Measca |
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| Location | County Mayo |
| Coordinates | 53°37′N 9°21′W / 53.617°N 9.350°WCoordinates: 53°37′N 9°21′W / 53.617°N 9.350°W |
| Lake type | Limestone lake |
| Basin countries | Ireland |
| Max. length | 16.1 km (10.0 mi) |
| Max. width | 6.4 km (4.0 mi) |
| Surface area | 83 km2 (32 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Max. depth | 58 m (190 ft) |
| Water volume | 1.3 km3 (1,100,000 acre·ft) |
| Residence time | 0.28 years |
Lough Mask (Irish: Loch Measca) is a limestone lough (lake) of 20,500 acres (83 km²) in County Mayo, Ireland, north of Lough Corrib. Lough Mask is the middle of the three lakes, which empty into the Corrib River, through Galway, into Galway Bay. Lough Carra flows into Lough Mask, which feeds into Lough Corrib through an underground stream which becomes the River Cong. Lough Mask is the sixth largest lake, by area, in Ireland. The eastern half of Lough Mask is shallow and contains many islands. The other half (Upper Lough Mask) is much deeper, sinking to a long trench with depths in excess of 50 metres. Lough Mask has a mean depth of 15m, and a maximum depth of 58m. Its water volume of 1.3 km3 is only surpassed by Lough Neagh's 3.5 km3 in Ireland and it is the largest lake, by water volume, in the Republic of Ireland.
The lake is popular for its trout fishing. The World Cup Trout Fly Fishing Championship takes place annually on Lough Mask at Cushlough Bay near Ballinrobe.
In 1338 Sir Edmond de Burgh was drowned in the lake by his cousin Sir Edmond Albanach Bourke of County Mayo, at the end of the Burke Civil War 1333–38. He was captured at Ballinrobe and taken to Oilean-an-lara (the Earls Island) where he was killed.
According to a side-note on the manuscript containing the oldest copy of 'Tóruigheacht Dhiarmada agus Ghráinne' ("The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne") (Royal Irish Academy Ms. 24.P.9), Irish scribe Dáibhídh Bacach ("lame David") Ó Duibhgeannáin was living and working on Oileán Ruadh ('Red Island') on Lough Mask in the house of Tadhg Og O Flaherty on the date, April 1, 1651.
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