Event: Ireland

Lough Derg

When:	Daily
Where:	Lough Derg

Lough Derg, or the Lake of the Bloody Eye, on the River Shannon is an anglers', nature lovers' and watersports enthusiasts' paradise that forms the boundary of County Tipperary, County Galway and County Clare in the West of Ireland.

Where the fleets of Brian Boru and the O'Connors of Connacht once clashed in naval battle, anglers in dinghies cast their lines amongst the reeds and cruisers ply the deeper waters in peaceful contemplation. The vast lake's tranquil edge is dotted with numerous harbours (Portumna, Terryglass, Kilgarvan, newly-developed Coolbawn, Dromineer, Garrykennedy, Ballina, Killaloe, Scarriff, Mountshannon and Williamstown), all of which make excellent bases for a fun-filled holiday.

The northern half of the Lough has headlands, islands and shoals formed by a boulder-rich glacial drift. The southern end is much more dramatic, as the deep waters (30 metres and more) are channelled through a gap cut through the mountains.

From mysterious prehistoric pagan monuments to the Celtic crosses of early Christianity, from the cottages abandoned during the potato famine to the stylish architecture of affluent Ireland, a visit to Lough Derg offers a unique exposure to Irish history.