| Lough Key | |
|---|---|
| Location | County Roscommon |
| Basin countries | Ireland |
| Max. length | 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) |
| Max. width | 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) |
| Islands | 32 (incl. Castle Island, Stag Island, Bullock Island, and Drumman's Island) |
Lough Key (Irish: Loch Cé) is a lake in Ireland. It is located in the northwest of County Roscommon, northeast of the town of Boyle. The lough's name is believed to come from Cé, a druid; the lake was formed over his grave.[1]
Contents |
The name Lough key, derives from ce', the druid of nuadha of the silver arm, king of the tuatha de danann who, according to legend, was drowned when the waters of the lake burst forth from the earth.
The area around Lough Key and the nearby town of Boyle, in County Roscommon, have been inhabited for thousands of years.
The lake is several kilometres across and contains over thirty wooded islands including 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 lighting strike is reported to have started a fire in "The Rock of Loch-Cé," a "very magnificent, kingly residence." Currently a folly castle built in the early 19th century by the King family stands on the island. Trinity and Church Islands each have the ruins of medieval priories standing on them.
The King family acquired the land around Lough Key in the 17th century Cromwellian Settlement,[2] renaming the area from Moylurg to Rockingham. In 1809, Rockingham House – a mansion designed by English architect John Nash[3] – was built. The house remained the seat of the Stafford-King-Harman family until it was badly damaged in a fire in 1957.[4] It was subsequently demolished in 1970, despite earlier pledges by the Irish government to restore this historically important building.
Immediately to the south of the lough is Lough Key Forest Park, a popular destination for recreational walkers. The park, opened in 1972,[5] covers 865 acres (350 ha) formerly part of the Rockingham estate. The Moylurg Tower, standing on the site of the old Rockingham house, now stands overlooking the lake to the north and lawns to the south. There are many amenities in the park including boat tours, boats for hire, water activities, camping and caravan park, an outdoor playground and shop. A 2007 development[6] added a number of new attractions including a forest canopy walkway and children's play areas, to cater to the "21st century visitor."[7]
Sir Cecil Stafford-King-Harman (1895–1987), second (and last) Baronet of Rockingham, 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 50 acres (20 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 forts, 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 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 Kilronan, three miles (5 km) to the north of the lake.
The lake is in the northern part of the River Shannon drainage basin, and feeds a short tributary of that river which joins the main river at Lough Drumharlow, 13 km (8.1 mi) to the east. One can see an impressive view of the lake from the 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).
From the Annals of the Four Masters: