Lough Beg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lough Beg |
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 Lough Beg
Location in Northern Ireland
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| Location | Northern Ireland |
| Coordinates | 54°47′50″N 6°28′30″W / 54.79722°N 6.47500°W |
| Native name | Loch Beag Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help) |
| Basin countries | Northern Ireland |
| Official name: Lough Neagh & Lough Beg | |
| Designated: | 5 January 1976 |
| Reference #: | 74 |
Lough Beg, also known as Loch Beag (which means 'little lake' in Irish), is a small freshwater lake in Northern Ireland. It's located just north of Lough Neagh, a much bigger lake. This lake sits right on the border between two counties: County Londonderry and County Antrim.
The Lower Bann River flows into Lough Beg from Lough Neagh at its southern end. Then, it continues its journey towards the sea from the northern end of Lough Beg. You'll find Church Island in the lake. Long ago, even before the Vikings arrived, a monastery was built there. In summer, you can usually walk right out to the island! Lough Beg is a special place because it has many rare plants and is a vital stop for birds flying long distances. Because of this, it's protected as the Lough Beg National Nature Reserve.
Exploring Church Island
Church Island is about 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) from Bellaghy. It's not always a true island because the water in the lake has gone down since the River Bann was made deeper in the 1930s. This means you can often walk to it!
People believe the church on the island dates back to the time of Saint Patrick. The story says he traveled along the River Bann and started a settlement here. The church doesn't have a tall spire on top. Instead, there's a separate spire built next to it. This was put up in the late 1700s so that Bishop Harvey could see it from his home in Bellaghy.
There's also a famous stone called the Bullaun Stone. It has a hollow that fills with water. People say this hollow was worn down by Saint Patrick as he prayed. Each year, on the first Sunday in September, people visit the island to celebrate the feast of Saint Thaddeus.
Lough Beg as a Ramsar Site
Lough Neagh and Lough Beg are very important nature reserves. They have been named a Ramsar site. A Ramsar site is a special wetland area that is protected because it's important for nature around the world. This reserve includes areas that flood, marshy lands, and fields used for grazing animals.
Many different kinds of waterbirds live here or stop by during their long migrations. These include beautiful swans, geese, and ducks. The area is also very interesting for people who study plants. A rare orchid called the hooded lady's tresses grows here. The Lough Neagh area is one of the very few places in Ireland where you can find this special plant.
