Lough Sheelin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lough Sheelin Loch Síodh Linn
Location	Counties Westmeath, Meath & Cavan
Coordinates	53°48′N 7°19′W / 53.800°N 7.317°W / 53.800; -7.317
Lake type	Freshwater lough
Primary inflows	River Inny
Primary outflows	River Inny
Catchment area	River Shannon
Basin countries	Ireland
Max. length	8 km (5.0 mi)
Max. width	4 km (2.5 mi)
Surface area	19 km2 (7.3 sq mi)
Average depth	4.4 m (14 ft)
Max. depth	15 m (49 ft)
Islands	10

Lough Sheelin is a beautiful freshwater lake in the middle of Ireland. Its name comes from the Irish Loch Síodh Linn, which means "lake of the fairy pool."

This lake is part of the River Inny's journey, and its waters eventually flow into the much larger Shannon system.

Lough Sheelin's Location and Landscape

Lough Sheelin is a special place where three counties meet: Westmeath, Meath, and Cavan. It's close to villages like Finnea and Mountnugent. Most of the lake's area is in County Cavan.

The lake is an early part of the River Inny, which is a big river that flows into the Shannon. Water flows into Lough Sheelin from the Upper Inny (also called the Ross River). Water then flows out as the Lower Inny. Many smaller streams also feed the lake, including the Mountnugent River and the Bellsgrove Stream.

Lough Sheelin is about 7 km (4.3 mi) long. Its surface covers between 1,855 and 1,900 hectares (4,580 and 4,700 acres). The ground under the lake is mostly made of limestone. Some of the smaller rivers that flow into it pass over quartzite rock.

Wildlife of Lough Sheelin

Lough Sheelin is naturally home to brown trout. However, in the late 1900s, the number of these trout dropped a lot. This happened because too many nutrients, especially phosphorus, entered the lake from nearby farms. This made the water richer, which wasn't good for the trout.

In 2000, an invasive species called zebra mussels appeared in the lake. Their population grew very quickly. Invasive species are plants or animals that are not native to an area and can harm the local environment.

To help the lake, a government group called Inland Fisheries Ireland checks the water quality. They work with local groups, like the Lough Sheelin Trout Preservation Association. Together, they have added farm-raised trout to the lake to help the population grow again.

Besides trout, you can also find many common roach in the lake. Other fish species include stickleback, pike, perch, and eels.

Protecting Lough Sheelin's Birds

Lough Sheelin is a very important place for birds. It is named a Special Protection Area (SPA) under the EU Birds Directive. This means it's a protected site for birds, especially those that spend the winter there.

The lake supports important populations of several waterfowl species. These include the great crested grebe, pochard, tufted duck, and goldeneye. Protecting the lake helps these birds thrive.