Primary inflows Basin countries Ireland Max. width 4.8 km (3.0 mi) Area 35 km² Outflow location River Shannon | Primary outflows River Shannon Max. length 17.7 km (11.0 mi) Surface area 35 km (14 sq mi) Province Connacht Inflow source River Shannon | |
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Cities Drumshanbo, Arigna, Drumkeeran, Dowra, Ballinaglera | ||
Lough Allen (Irish: Loch Aillionn) is a lake on the River Shannon in northeastern Connacht, Ireland. Most of the lake is in County Leitrim, with a smaller part in County Roscommon. The lake lies to the south of the River Shannon's source, near the Iron Mountains, and is the uppermost of the three main lakes on the river. The other two, Lough Ree and Lough Derg are much further to the south.
Contents
Map of Lough Allen, Ireland
GeographyEdit
Lough-Allen, out of which the Shanon takes its source, is nine miles long, and three mies broad. The lake is shaped like an upturned isosceles triangle. The Shannon enters the lake at the wider northern end and leaves the lake at the narrow southern end. Other rivers that feed the lake include the Diffagher (northwest), the Yellow (northeast), the Stoney (east) and the Arigna (southwest). The R280 regional road skirts the west side of the lake, while the R207 follows the east bank, from Ballinagleragh to Drumshanbo. The R200 road is on the north side of the lake, traveling west from Dowra to Drumkeeran. Slieve Anierin lie to the east of Lough Allen. In recent years, there has been speculation that notable reserves of Oil and Gas lie beneath the Allen basin.
EcologyEdit
Between c. 2001 – c. 2003, water quality was reported to be excellent with an oligotrophic rating. The pike population is the "native Irish strain" (Irish: liús meaning 'Irish Pike') not the other European Pike strain (Irish: gailliasc meaning 'strange or foreign fish'). The ecology of Lough Allen, and other Irish waterways, remain threatened by curly waterweed, zebra mussel, and freshwater clam invasive species.
Iron WorksEdit
Iron Ore has been dug out of the ground at Slieve Anierin for millennia, the Ore being rather tough like Spanish Iron. From the early 17th century a number of mines and works were conveniently contiguous to Lough Allen, allowing for the transportation of Iron Ore over water to the Iron works in boats of up to forty tons. During the Irish Rebellion of 1641 nearly all Iron-works were destroyed, but many were revived by the English after the Irish Confederate Wars. Before the 17th century Ireland had been covered in Woodland, but the forests were denuded to make Charcoal for Iron works. The Iron industry here ceased production in the 19th century.
ReservoirEdit
On the construction of the Shannon hydroelectric scheme in 1925-9, the lake became a storage reservoir for the power station nearly 100 miles away, with sluices to control the flow into the river. This helps to maintain the flow during dry periods and manage flooding at other times. It made the Lough Allen Canal, which was rarely used by this time, unusable until restored in 1996.
RegattasEdit
In the mid 19th Century, regattas were held by M. O'Conor at Lough Allen Island which is also known as O'Reilly's Island at the southern end of the lake. The house is destroyed, and only a ruin now exists. Regatta parties were held at Birchill's House, Blackrock. E.K. Tenison of Kilronan Castle, the world famous photographer, Captain Tottenham, Captain Birchill and Francis la Touche attended the Regatta parties. Among the yachts competing in the regattas were 'Corsair', 'Avenger', 'Querida', 'Meta' and 'Shamrock'. The Water Wags from Dun Laoghaire, organised a regatta on Lough Allen, in September 2015, for their 14'-3" long historic open clinker dinghies. competed in a regatta in 2014, including Penelope (1933), Scallywag, Swift, Moosmie (1910) , Mollie, Chloe, Marie Louise (1927) and Good Hope. This was probably the first regatta on the lake since the mid 19th century.