Enagh Lough

Enagh Lough (from Irish Loch Eanach, meaning 'marshy lake') is a pair of lakes called East lake and Westlake, situated between Judges Road and Temple Road in Maydown, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

Enagh Lough
Loch Eanach
LocationMaydown, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Coordinates55°1′18″N 7°16′2″W
Primary inflowsRiver Faughan
Basin countriesNorthern Ireland
IslandsGreen Island

Features

Under the surface at the bottom of the lake there is ice age water. The Honourable The Irish Society have leased the fishing rights to the local Strathfoyle Community Association as many local residents use the area for angling and walking. Enagh Lough is an outstanding area of natural beauty, with vivid wildlife including red squirrels and Pipistrelle bats, both of which are fast becoming scarce in Northern Ireland. Also situated on the lough is Green Island, also known as Templetown Island or Enagh Crannog, which is accessible by wading.

History

Green Island was created by a clan from Dungiven. The Bishop of Derry once hid on the island in a tower as he was a wanted man by some. The island is recognised the Northern Ireland Environment Agency as a historical monument. All around the lough is hidden history, and just a short walk away is the Enagh Trout Fishery and old graveyard. Strathfoyle Youth Forum are currently working with local wildlife and environmental organisations such as the Ulster Wildlife Trust, in hope that the areas wildlife can be protected and walkways and fishing jetties created.

On 29 August 1944, during World War II a Royal Navy Fairey Barracuda (DP872) was returning to its base at East Haven, Angus, Scotland from RNAS Maydown (HMS Shrike). The aircraft crashed into Enagh Lough with the loss of all three crew. In May 1971, there was a huge Naval recovery operation to find the wreckage of the aircraft.[1][2][3]

  • Enagh Lough is the setting for a number of Derry's ghost stories including the man with a dog's head.
  • Enagh was the site of a major excavations in the search for Celtic relics.
  • The now defunct Gaelic football team, Enagh GAC was named after the lough.
  • Enagh once froze over so completely that people drove cars on the ice.
gollark: I look around.
gollark: .
gollark: I go deeper into the cave, after telling the cave bee that 7 is one of the integers ever
gollark: Well, I return to the cave then.
gollark: Well, you can't do anything except probably die.

References
  3. Derry Journal, Section One - Page 18 Friday 11 January 2008
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