Lough MacNean facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lough MacNean |
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Inishee on Lower Lough MacNean
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 Location in island of Ireland
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Map showing Upper (left) and Lower (right) Lough MacNean (1900).
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| Location | County Fermanagh; County Cavan; County Leitrim |
| Coordinates | 54°17′20″N 7°50′0″W / 54.28889°N 7.83333°W |
| Type | Freshwater |
| Native name | Loch Mac nÉan Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help) |
| Primary outflows | Arney River |
| Basin countries | Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland |
| Settlements | Belcoo, Blacklion, Glenfarne |
Lough MacNean is a large freshwater lake. It sits right on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Its name comes from the Irish Loch Mac nÉan, which means "Mac nÉan's lake."
This lake is actually made of two parts. The smaller part, called Lower Lough MacNean, is in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The bigger part, Upper Lough MacNean, stretches across County Fermanagh, County Cavan, and County Leitrim in the Republic of Ireland.
The villages of Belcoo (in Fermanagh) and Blacklion (in Cavan) are located on the land between the two parts of the lake. A small river connects the eastern and western parts of Lough MacNean, flowing between these two villages.
The shape of Lough MacNean changed a lot in the 1960s. This was because of a big draining project. Before this, people used to fish for eels in the lake. However, the digging and clearing during the draining process greatly reduced the number of eels.
Islands of Lough MacNean
Lough MacNean has several islands. Some of these islands are now connected to the mainland by small bridges. This makes them easier to reach.
Islands in Upper Lough MacNean
- Bilberry Island
- Garrow (or Buck) Islands
- Inishkeen
- Inishteig
- Kilrooskagh Island (its name means "wood of the morass")
- Patrick's Island
- Port Island
- Rosscorkey Island
- Trawnish (meaning "shore/strand island")
- Tuam Island (meaning "tumulus," which is an ancient burial mound)
Islands in Lower Lough MacNean
- Cushrush Island
- Inishee (meaning "Aodh's island")
Some islands, like Cushrush, Inishteig, Kilrooscagh, and Rosscorkey, are now joined to the land by small bridges. People have lived on Cushrush for a very long time. Scientists have found many small flint tools there. These tools show that people lived on Cushrush even in the Stone Age.
There are also the remains of two crannogs in the lake. A crannog is a small island that was built or partly built by people long ago. These man-made islands were used as homes in ancient times. One crannog is found in each part of Lough MacNean.
