Lough Boderg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lough Boderg |
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 Lough Boderg
Location in Ireland
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| Location | Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°52′17″N 7°58′42″W / 53.871264°N 7.978204°W |
| Native name | Loch Bó Dearg Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help) |
| Primary inflows | River Shannon |
| Primary outflows | River Shannon |
| Basin countries | Ireland |
| Surface area | 5.1 km2 (2.0 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | 36 m (118 ft) |
| Islands | Inishmoylin, Dockery's Island, Coarse Island, Illanamoe |
Lough Boderg (which means Irish: Loch Bó Dearg in Irish) is a beautiful lake in Ireland. You can find it on the famous River Shannon. This lake sits between County Roscommon and County Leitrim.
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Discovering Lough Boderg
Lough Boderg is a really big lake. It covers an area of about 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres). The lake is part of the River Shannon, flowing between Kilmore in County Roscommon and Annaduff in County Leitrim.
The lovely woodlands of Derrycarne are right by the lake. These woods used to belong to the Nesbitt family a long time ago. Today, you can walk along paths in Derrycarne. These paths lead you right to the lake's edge.
Legends and History of the Lake
The Tale of the Red and White Cows
The name Lough Boderg means "Lake of the red cow." There's another lake nearby called Lough Bofin. Its name means "Lake of the white cow." These two lakes are separated by a narrow spot called Derrycarne Narrows.
There's a cool legend about how these lakes got their names. The story says a mermaid was once found in one of the lakes. She was taken to a nearby farmhouse. The people at the farm were very kind to her. To thank them, the mermaid started telling fortunes.
The mermaid told them to put her back in the water on the evening of May Day. She promised they would get a big reward one year later. The people did exactly as she said. They put her back in the lake and said goodbye.
Exactly one year later, they went back to the spot. They were amazed to see two cows walking out of the water! One cow was red, and the other was white. That's how the lakes got their special names.
An Ancient Boundary Marker
Long ago, Lough Boderg was an important landmark. A famous ancient leader named Túathal Techtmar used it. He marked the borders of the old Kingdom of Meath. The lake was part of the saying: "From Loch-Bo-Deirg to Birra [Birr], From Sena [Shannon] eastward to the sea." This shows how important the lake was in ancient times.
Fun Activities at Lough Boderg
Fishing Adventures
Lough Boderg is a fantastic place for fishing! Many different types of fish live here. You can find fish like bream, rudd, roach, and northern pike. There are also eels and European perch. It's a popular spot for anglers of all ages.
Boating and Water Sports
If you love boats, you'll be interested to know that the North Shannon Motor Yacht Club is located right on Lough Boderg. This means the lake is a great place for boating and enjoying the water.
