Lough Ramor
| Lough Ramor | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | County Cavan |
| Coordinates | 53°49′N 7°5′W / 53.817°N 7.083°WCoordinates: 53°49′N 7°5′W / 53.817°N 7.083°W |
| Type | Glacial |
| Primary inflows | Various Blackwater |
| Primary outflows | Blackwater river |
| Catchment area | River Boyne flowing into Irish Sea below Drogheda |
| Basin countries | Ireland |
| Surface area | 7.41 km2 (2.86 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
| Max. depth | 5.5 m (18 ft) |
| Water volume | 22 km3 (18×106 acre·ft) |
| Residence time | 0.17 years |
Lough Ramor (Irish: Loch Ramhar) is a large natural lake of 741 hectares situated near Virginia, County Cavan. From early records Vita Tripartita identified as being in the territory of Cenal Muinreamhair. The literal meaning of the term Muinreamhair is 'fat-neck' and appears to be derived from a prehistoric or mythical ancestor warrior, connoting great strength. Loch Muinreamhair also appears in early manuscripts of the Four Masters. Lough Ramor has been designated as a proposed Natural Heritage Area (pNHA) and flows into the Blackwater which is a designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the Natura 2000 wildlife habitat conservation programme (site code 002299)<http://webgis.npws.ie/npwsviewer/>.
Lough Ramor is a partly wooded wetland site, a haven for many species of wildlife both resident and migratory. Available recorded history indicates that nearly half of the 170 acres (0.69 km2) of Deerpark woodland was once oak woodland, the timber being used for building and agricultural purposes. During the seventeenth century it was reported that early Virginia settlers had to transport their building timber from west Cavan and Fermanagh. The early nineteenth century saw extensive tree planting of ash, elm, oak, larch, spruce and Scots pine. In recent times additional broad leaf varieties were planted including sycamore.
The most recent site study conducted by the Government Department of the Environment describes the Lough Ramor area as a hollow in the Silurian strata that covers most of eastern County Cavan. Lough Ramor is a very shallow lake with a pH of 7.5 and a maximum depth of six metres. The water is nutritionally poor but is periodically enriched, resulting in algal blooms. Being situated on a different rock type than other Cavan lakes it differs also in appearance. Much of the shore has semi-natural woodland of alder, willows and hazel. The stands near Virginia were originally planted.
Hazel and hawthorn scrub is widespread on relatively dry sites with bramble, false brome, wood sedge, violet, bluebell, wild hyacinth and primrose. Where such communities occur on a rocky shore crab apple often grows with roses and dog violet. The scrub grades into woodland in several places on the southern shore and here ash and oak occur with holly. The bird community in such sites include treecreeper, long-tailed tit, chiffchaff, willow warbler and locally blackcap, woodpigeon, sparrowhawk, jay, pheasant and woodcock are also found.
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