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Glencar Lough (Irish: Loch Ghleann an Chairthe, meaning 'lake of the glen of the pillar stone'),[4][5] locally known as Glencar Lake, is a freshwater lake in the northwest of Ireland. It covers an area of 1.15 square kilometres (284 acres) and lies mostly in County Leitrim with a smaller part in County Sligo. Glencar Waterfall is located near the lake's north shore on the Leitrim side.

Glencar Lough
West towards Benbulbin
Location in Ireland
Location	County Leitrim, County Sligo
Coordinates	54°20′22″N 8°23′9″W
Lake type	Glacial lake
Native name	Loch Ghleann an Chairthe (Irish)
Primary inflows	Glencar Waterfall, Diffreen River
Primary outflows	Drumcliff River
Catchment area	41.22 km2 (15.92 sq mi)
Basin countries	Ireland
Max. length	2.5 km (1.6 mi)
Max. width	0.6 km (0.37 mi)
Surface area	1.15 km2 (0.44 sq mi)
Surface elevation	28 m (92 ft)
References	[1][2][3]

Geography

Glencar Lough lies in the Glencar Valley, between the Dartry Mountains to the north and the mountain range including Cope's Mountain to the south. The lake is located about 10 kilometres (6 mi) northeast of Sligo and about fifteen kilometres (9 mi) west of Manorhamilton. It is 2.5 km (1.6 mi) long from west to east and 0.6 km (0.4 mi) wide.[2] The lake has two crannogs (artificial islands): one at the western end near the Drumcliff River outlet and the other at the eastern end near the Diffreen River.[3]

Hydrology

Glencar Lough is primarily fed by Glencar Waterfall, on the lake's northern shore, and by the Diffreen River, entering at the lake's eastern end. Sruth in Aghaidh an Aird also flows out to the northern shore, just west of the Glencar Waterfall outflow. The lake drains west into the Drumcliff River, which in turn flows into Sligo Bay.[3] Lake depth is greatest near the southern shore with a shallower shelf at the northern shore.[6]

Natural history

Fish present in Glencar Lough include salmon and brown trout.[6] Bird life includes tufted duck, pochard and goldeneye. These are migratory species which winter at the lake.[2]

Ecology

The water quality was reported to be excellent c. 2001 – c. 2003 with an oligotrophic rating.[7][n 1] The ecology of Glencar Lough, and other Irish waterways, remain threatened by curly waterweed, zebra mussel, and freshwater clam invasive species.[9][10]

History

Historically Glencar Valley was known as Glenn-Dallain[11] and was part of the Kingdom of Breifne. The lake and its crannogs, then occupied, are mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, specifically the eastern crannog where "the sons of Donough O'Rourke, i.e. Donnell and Ferganainm, made an attack upon the crannog, and privately set fire to the town".[12]

Economy

Barite was mined at Glencarbury in the Dartry Mountains above the lake between 1894 and 1979. A cable ropeway from the mine area to the lake shore was constructed in 1942. By this means the extracted barite was taken down for onward road transport.[13]

The Glencar Water Company has its bottling plant located near the lake's northern shore. The company, established in 2008, sells water drawn from an onsite spring emanating from within the nearby Dartry Mountains.[14]

See also

• List of loughs in Ireland

References and notes

Notes

Primary sources

Secondary sources

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