View source for Lough Neagh

{{short description|Freshwater lake in Northern Ireland}}
{{redirects|Lake Neagh|the lake on Saturn's moon Titan|Neagh Lacus}}
{{For|the racehorse|Lough Neagh (horse)}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=June 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name               = Lough Neagh
| native_name        = {{native name list |tag1=ga|name1=Loch nEathach |tag2=sco-ulster|name2=Loch Neagh |postfix1=<ref>[http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/nh008peatbogsulsterscotsfactsheet2007.pdf Naijural Heirship: Peat Mosses] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906195021/http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/nh008peatbogsulsterscotsfactsheet2007.pdf |date=6 September 2012 }} NI Environment and Heritage Service.</ref>}}
| image              = Lough Neagh by Sentinel-2.jpg
| caption            = A ESA Sentinel-2 image of Lough Neagh
| image_bathymetry   = 
| pushpin_map        = Northern Ireland
| caption_bathymetry = 
| location           = [[Northern Ireland]], UK
| coords             = {{coord|54|37|06|N|6|23|43|W|region:GB_type:waterbody_scale:500000|display=inline,title}}
| type               = Fresh Water Lough/Lake
| inflow             = Upper Bann, [[Six Mile Water]], Glenavy River, Crumlin River, [[River Blackwater, Ulster|Blackwater]], [[River Moyola|Moyola River]], Ballinderry River, [[River Main (County Antrim)|River Main]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.habitas.org.uk/flora/habitats/rivers.htm|title=Flora of Northern Ireland|website=habitas.org.uk|access-date=18 September 2009|archive-date=6 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306022617/http://www.habitas.org.uk/flora/habitats/rivers.htm}}</ref>
| outflow            = [[River Bann|Lower Bann]]
| catchment          = {{convert|4550|km2|mi2|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| basin_countries    = {{plainlist|
*[[Northern Ireland]] (91%)
*[[Republic of Ireland]] (9%)}}
| length             = {{convert|19|mi|km|abbr=on}}
| width              = {{convert|9.3|mi|km|abbr=on}}
| area               = {{convert|151|mi2|km2|abbr=on}}
| depth              = {{convert|30|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| max-depth          = {{convert|80|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| volume             = {{convert|0.85|mi3|km3|abbr=on}}
| residence_time     = 
| shore              = {{convert|125|km|mi|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| elevation          = {{convert|14.63|m|ft|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| islands            = ([[#Islands and peninsulas|see below]])
| cities             = 
| embedded           = {{Designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Ramsar
| designation1_offname = Lough Neagh & Lough Beg
| designation1_date = 5 January 1976
| designation1_number = 74<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lough Neagh & Lough Beg|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/74|access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref>}}
| Rescue Service     = 
}}

'''Lough Neagh''' ({{IPAc-en|l|ɒ|x|_|ˈ|n|eɪ}} {{respell|lokh|_|NAY}};<ref>{{cite book |last1=Upton |first1=Clive |title=The Routledge Dictionary of Pronunciation for Current English |date=2017 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |page=778}}</ref> {{Langx|ga|Loch nEathach}} {{IPA|ga|l̪ˠɔx ˈn̠ʲaha(x)|}})<ref>{{cite web |title=Lough Neagh/Loch nEathach |url=https://www.logainm.ie/en/1166400 |website=[[Placenames Database of Ireland]]}}</ref> is a [[freshwater]] lake in [[Northern Ireland]] and is the largest lake on the island of [[Ireland]] and in the [[British Isles]]. It has a surface area of {{convert|383|km2|mi2|abbr=off|order=flip}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-30 |title=Lough Neagh Catchment Map {{!}} Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs |url=https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/lough-neagh-catchment-map |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=DAERA |language=en}}</ref> and is about {{convert|19|mi}} long and {{convert|9|mi}} wide. According to [[Northern Ireland Water]], it supplies 40.7% of Northern Ireland's drinking water. 

Its main inflows are the Upper [[River Bann]] and [[River Blackwater, Ulster|Blackwater]], and its main outflow is the Lower Bann. There are several small islands, including [[Ram's Island, Northern Ireland|Ram's Island]], [[Coney Island, Lough Neagh|Coney Island]] and [[Derrywarragh Island]]. The lake bed is owned by [[Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, 12th Earl of Shaftesbury|the 12th Earl of Shaftesbury]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/columnists/archive/noel-mcadam/lough-neaghs-future-still-up-in-air-after-owner-meets-minister-30171742.html|title=Lough Neagh's future still up in air after owner meets minister|newspaper=[[Belfast Telegraph]]|date=10 April 2014}}</ref> and the lake is managed by Lough Neagh Partnership.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.loughneaghpartnership.org| title = Home – Lough Neagh Partnership}}</ref> Its name comes from [[Irish language|Irish]] {{lang|ga|Loch nEachach}} {{IPA|ga|ˌl̪ˠɔx ˈn̠ʲahəx|}}, meaning "[[The Dagda|Eachaidh]]'s lake".<ref name="Laurance Flanagan 1994">Deirdre Flanagan and Laurance Flanagan, Irish Placenames, (Gill & Macmillan Ltd, 1994)</ref>

==Geography==
With an area of {{convert|383|km2|sqmi|order=flip}}, it is the British Isles' largest lake by area and is ranked 34th in the [[list of largest lakes of Europe]].{{cn|date=September 2023}} Located {{convert|20|mi}} west of [[Belfast]], it is about {{convert|19|mi}} long and {{convert|9|mi}} wide. It is very shallow around the margins and the average depth in the main body of the lake is about {{convert|30|ft|m|0}}, although at its deepest the lough is about {{convert|80|ft}} deep.

===Geology===
Geologically the Lough Neagh Basin is a depression, built from many tectonic events dating back as far as 400 million years ago. These tectonic events are responsible for a NE-SW bedrock structure which has controlled many subsequent events. During the Paleozoic era, the Lough Neagh Basin was a depositional [[graben]].<ref>R.B. Wood & R.V. Smith eds. ''Lough Neagh: The Ecology of a Multipurpose Water Resource'', Springer Science, 1993.</ref>

===Hydrology===
Of the {{convert|4550|km2|sqmi|order=flip|adj=on}} catchment area, around 9% lies in the [[Republic of Ireland]] and 91% in Northern Ireland;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ecn.ac.uk/sites/site/lakes/lough-neagh |title=Lough Neagh |work=UK Environmental Change Network |access-date=4 March 2012}}</ref> altogether 43% of the land area of Northern Ireland is drained into the lough,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/articles/lough-neagh-levels|title=Lough Neagh levels &#124; Department for Infrastructure|date=26 April 2015|website=Department for Infrastructure | via = infrastructure-ni.gov.uk}}</ref> which itself flows out northwards to the sea via the [[River Bann]]. As one of its sources is the Upper Bann, the Lough can itself be considered as part of the Bann.
Lough Neagh is fed by many tributaries including the rivers [[River Main (County Antrim)|Main]] ({{convert|34|mi|abbr=on|disp=comma}}), [[Six Mile Water]] ({{convert|21|mi|abbr=on|disp=comma}}), [[River Bann|Upper Bann]] ({{convert|40|mi|abbr=on|disp=comma}}), [[River Blackwater, Northern Ireland|Blackwater]] ({{convert|57|mi|abbr=on|disp=comma}}), [[Ballinderry River|Ballinderry]] ({{convert|29|mi|abbr=on|disp=comma}}) and [[River Moyola|Moyola]] ({{convert|31|mi|abbr=on|disp=comma}})<ref>Ordnance Survey of Ireland: ''Rivers and their Catchment Basins 1958 (Table of Reference)''</ref>

The water in the lough has been monitored extensively since 1974 and has undergone considerable eutrophication and toxic algal blooms. According to a 2016 study, it "has become much enriched as a result of anthropogenic [[eutrophication]], most of which occurred in the last century... Despite the recent changes in nutrient loading the lake is still currently classed as hypereutrophic".<ref name="m060">{{cite journal | last1=Elliott | first1=J. Alex | last2=McElarney | first2=Yvonne R. | last3=Allen | first3=Michelle | title=The past and future of phytoplankton in the UK's largest lake, Lough Neagh | journal=Ecological Indicators | volume=68 | date=2016 | doi=10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.07.015 | doi-access=free | pages=142–149 | bibcode=2016EcInd..68..142E }}</ref> In 2023 and 2024, toxic [[algal bloom]]s, mostly caused by [[Agricultural pollution|agricultural run-off]], spread across the lake.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lough Neagh: An ecological catastrophe |url=https://www.environmentireland.ie/lough-neagh-an-ecological-catastrophe/ |website=Environment Ireland |date=20 November 2023 |access-date=15 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cullen |first1=Louise |title=Lough Neagh: The year the UK's largest lake turned green |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-67717507 |access-date=15 May 2024 |publisher=BBC News |date=2 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Brett |title=Explainer: What is causing Lough Neagh to turn green? |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/environment/explainer-what-is-causing-lough-neagh-to-turn-green/a1382464686.html |access-date=15 May 2024 |publisher=Belfast Telegraph |date=18 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cullen |first1=Louise |last2=McKee |first2=Ross |title='Disgusting' smell at Lough Neagh as algae spreads |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3g0e58gq40o |access-date=13 August 2024 |publisher=BBC News |date=2 August 2024}}</ref>

===Islands and peninsulas===
*[[Coney Island, Lough Neagh|Coney Island]]
*Croaghan Island
*[[Derrywarragh Island]]
*Gartree Point
*Kinnegoe (peninsula)
*Kinturk (peninsula)
*[[Oxford Island]] (peninsula)
*Padian
*[[Ram's Island, Northern Ireland|Ram's Island]]
*Tolans Flat
*[[Traad]] (peninsula)

===Towns and villages===
Towns and villages near the Lough include [[Craigavon, County Armagh|Craigavon]], [[Antrim, County Antrim|Antrim]], [[Crumlin, County Antrim|Crumlin]], [[Randalstown]], [[Toomebridge]], [[Ballyronan]], [[Ballinderry, Mid Ulster|Ballinderry]], [[Moortown, County Tyrone|Moortown]], [[Ardboe]], [[Brockagh]], [[Maghery]], [[Lurgan]] and [[Magherafelt]].

[[File:Northern Ireland - Counties.png|right|thumb|250px|Counties of Northern Ireland, relative to Lough Neagh]]
[[File:NI11w.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Districts of Northern Ireland, relative to Lough Neagh]]

===Counties===
Five of the six [[counties of Northern Ireland]] have shores on the Lough (only [[County Fermanagh|Fermanagh]] does not), and its area is split among them. The counties are listed clockwise:

#[[County Antrim|Antrim]] (eastern side and northern shore of the lake)
#[[County Down|Down]] (small part in the south-east)
#[[County Armagh|Armagh]] (south)
#[[County Tyrone|Tyrone]] (west)
#[[County Londonderry|Londonderry]] (northern part of west shore)

===Local government districts===
The area of the lake is split between four [[Local government in Northern Ireland|local government districts]] of Northern Ireland, which are listed clockwise:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ninis2.nisra.gov.uk/public/Home.aspx|title=statistics|first=Northern Ireland Statistics and Research|last=Agency|website=ninis2.nisra.gov.uk}}</ref>

* 3 [[Antrim and Newtownabbey]], in the north-east
* 4 [[Lisburn and Castlereagh]], in the east
* 6 [[Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon]], in the south
* 9 [[Mid-Ulster District|Mid Ulster]], in the west

== Management ==
Lough Neagh is managed by Lough Neagh Partnership Ltd, a stakeholder group made up of elected representatives, land-owners, fishermen, sand traders and local community representatives. Lough Neagh Partnership is responsible for the lough's conservation, promotion and sustainable development together with navigation of the Lough.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rebecca|first=Black|date=31 December 2024|title=Lough Neagh manager calls for water rates to be considered to help solve infrastructure and pollution problems|url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/environment/lough-neagh-manager-calls-for-water-rates-to-be-considered-to-help-solve-infrastructure-and-pollution-problems-4926601|publisher=[[News Letter]]|access-date=5 May 2025}}</ref>

==Uses==
Although the Lough is used for a variety of recreational and commercial activities, it is exposed and tends to get extremely rough very quickly in windy conditions.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Lough Neagh: Ulster's 'inland sea' can be a truly treacherous body of water|language=en-GB|work=belfasttelegraph|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/lough-neagh-ulsters-inland-sea-can-be-a-truly-treacherous-body-of-water-29466485.html|access-date=2021-06-16|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

[[Image:LoughNeaghandenvirons.png|thumb|right|300px|Lough Neagh and settlements surrounding it]]

===Water supply===

According to [[Northern Ireland Water]], Lough Neagh supplies 40.7% of Northern Ireland's drinking water.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.niwater.com/news-detail/12350/Your-water-is-safe-to-drink/| title = Your water is safe to drink |work=Northern Ireland Water |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230929193621/https://www.niwater.com/news-detail/12350/Your-water-is-safe-to-drink/ |archive-date=2023-09-29 |url-status=live}}</ref> There have long been plans to increase the amount of water drawn from the lough, through a new [[water treatment]] works at Hog Park Point, but these are yet to materialise. The lough's ownership by [[Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, 12th Earl of Shaftesbury|the 12th Earl of Shaftesbury]] has implications for planned changes to state-run domestic water services in Northern Ireland,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4563853.stm | publisher=BBC News | title=Sudden death may impact NI water | date=19 May 2005}}</ref> as the lough is also used as a [[sewage]] outfall, and this arrangement is only permissible through [[Sovereign immunity|Crown immunity]].{{citation needed|reason=A source for the sewage claim is needed, preferably with more explanation of the issues and ramifications.|date=July 2016}}

===Navigation===
Traditional working boats on Lough Neagh include wide-beamed {{Convert|16|to|21|ft|m|adj=on|order=flip}} [[Clinker (boat building)|clinker-built]], [[Spritsail|sprit-rigged]] working boats and smaller flat-bottomed "cots" and "flats". Barges, here called "lighters", were used until the 1940s to transport coal over the lough and adjacent canals. Until the 17th century, log boats (''coití'') were the main means of transport. Few traditional boats are left now, but a community-based group on the southern shore of the lough is rebuilding a series of working boats.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.loughneaghboats.org/ |title=Lough Neagh Boating Heritage Association |access-date=18 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122025023/http://www.loughneaghboats.org/ |archive-date=22 January 2019 }}</ref>

In the 19th century, three [[canal]]s were constructed, using the lough to link various ports and cities: the [[Lagan Canal|Lagan Navigation]] provided a link from the city of [[Belfast]], the [[Newry Canal]] linked to the port of [[Newry]], and the [[Ulster Canal]] led to the [[Lough Erne]] navigations, providing a navigable inland route via the [[River Shannon]] to [[Limerick]], Dublin and [[Waterford]]. The Lower Bann was also navigable to [[Coleraine]] and the Antrim coast, and the short [[Coalisland Canal]] provided a route for coal transportation. Of these waterways, only the Lower Bann remains open today, although a restoration plan for the Ulster Canal is currently in progress.

Lough Neagh Rescue provides a search and rescue service 24 hours a day and has 3 stations, situated around the lough. These are at Antrim, Ardboe and Kinnego Marinas, Kinnego being its headquarters and founding station. It is a voluntary service funded by the district councils bordering the Lough. Its members are highly trained and are a declared facility for the [[Maritime and Coastguard Agency]] which co-ordinates rescues on Lough Neagh.

===Bird watching===
Lough Neagh attracts [[birdwatcher]]s from many nations due to the number and variety of birds which winter and summer in the [[bogland]]s and shores around the lough.

===Flora===
The flora of the north-east of Northern Ireland includes the algae: ''Chara aspera'', ''Chara globularis'' var. ''globularis'', ''Chara globularis'' var. ''virgate'', ''Chara vulgaris'' var. ''vulgaris'', ''Chara vulgaris'' var. ''papillata'', ''Tolypella'' ''nidifica'' var. ''glomerata''.<ref name="Hackney 92">Hackney, P. 1992. ''Stewart & Corry's Flora of the North-east of Ireland.'' Third Edition. The Institute of Irish Studies, The Queen's University of Belfast. {{ISBN|0 85389 446 9}}</ref> Records of Angiospermae include: ''[[Ranunculus flammula]]'' var. ''pseudoreptans'', ''[[Ranunculus auricomus]]'', ''Ranunculatus sceleratus'', ''Ranunculatus circinatus'', ''Ranunculatus peltatus'', ''Thalictrum flavum'', ''Thalictrum minus'' subsp. ''minus'', ''Nymphaea alba'', ''Ceratophyllum demersum'', ''Subularia aquatic'', ''Erophila verna'' sub. ''verna'', ''[[Cardamine pratensis]]'', ''[[Cardamine impatiens]]'', ''[[Cardamine flexuosa]]'', ''[[Rorippa palustris]]'', ''[[Rorippa amphibia]]'', ''Reseda luteola'', ''[[Viola odorata]]'', ''[[Viola reichenbachiana]]'', ''Viola tricolor'' ssp. ''Violoa tricolor'' ssp. ''curtissi'', ''[[Hypericum androsaemum]]'', ''[[Hypericum maculatum]]'', ''Elatine hydropiper'', ''[[Silene vulgaris]]'', ''[[Silene dioica]]'', ''[[Saponaria officinalis]]'', ''[[Cerastium arvense]]'', ''Cerastium semidecandrum'', ''[[Cerastium diffusum]]'', ''[[Sagina nodosa]]'', ''[[Spergularia rubra]]'', ''Spergulaia rupicola'', ''Chenopodium bonus-henricus'', ''Chenopodium polyspermum''.<ref name="Hackney 92"/>

===Fishing===
Eel fishing has been a major industry in Lough Neagh for centuries. These [[European eel]]s make their way from the [[Sargasso Sea]] in the Atlantic Ocean, some {{convert|4000|mi|km|-3}} along the [[Gulf Stream]] to the mouth of the [[River Bann]], and then make their way into the lough. They remain there for some 10 to 15 years, maturing, before returning to the Sargasso to spawn. Today Lough Neagh eel fisheries export their eels to restaurants all over the world, and the Lough Neagh Eel has been granted [[Protected Geographical Status]] under [[Law of the European Union|European Union law]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/list.html?locale=en&filter.country=GB&recordSelection=all|title=DOOR|website=ec.europa.eu|date=24 October 2023 }}</ref>

[[Nobel Prize|Nobel laureate]] [[Seamus Heaney]] produced a collection of poems ''A Lough Neagh Sequence'' celebrating the eel-fishermen's traditional techniques and the natural history of their catch.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Heaney|first1=Seamus|title=A Lough Neagh Sequence|date=1969|publisher=Phoenix Pamphlet Poets Press|location=Didsbury, England|oclc=1985783}}</ref>

Other fish species in the lake include [[dollaghan]] —a variety of brown trout native to the lake, salmon, trout, perch and [[Pollan (fish)|pollan]]; bream, [[Gudgeon (fish)|gudgeon]], pike and [[rudd]] are also found, but are less common.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discoverloughneagh.com/fishing-boats/|title=Fishing & Boats}}</ref>

==Human history==
===Name===
The lough's English name derives {{Irish derived place name|Loch nEachach|[[The Dagda|Eachaidh]]'s lake}}.<ref name="Laurance Flanagan 1994"/> At the start of the [[Plantation of Ulster]], the English attempted to rename the lake 'Lough [[Henry Sydney, 1st Earl of Romney|Sydney]]' and 'Lough [[Arthur Chichester, 1st Baron Chichester|Chichester]]', in honour of the [[Lord Deputy of Ireland|Lord Deputies]], but these did not supplant the older name.<ref>William Shaw Mason ''A Statistical Account, Or Parochial Survey of Ireland, Volume II'' (1816), p219</ref>

===Mythology and folklore===
In the [[Irish mythology|Irish mythical]] tale ''[[Cath Maige Tuired]]'' ("the Battle of Moytura"), Lough Neagh is called one of the twelve chief loughs of Ireland.<ref>[[Augusta, Lady Gregory]]. [http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/gafm/gafm07.htm Part I Book III: The Great Battle of Magh Tuireadh]. ''Gods and Fighting Men'' (1904) at Sacred-Texts.com.</ref> The origin of the lake and its name is explained in an Irish tale that was written down in the [[Middle Ages]], but is likely pre-Christian.<ref name=ohogain>Ó hÓgáin, Dáithí. ''Myth, Legend & Romance: An encyclopaedia of the Irish folk tradition''. Prentice Hall Press, 1991. p.181</ref><ref name=draught>Mary McGrath, Joan C. Griffith. ''The Irish Draught Horse: A History''. Collins, 2005. p.44</ref> According to the tale, the lake is named after Echaid (modern spelling: Eochaidh or Eachaidh), who was the son of Mairid (Mairidh), a king of [[Munster]]. Echaid falls in love with his stepmother, a young woman named Ébliu (Ébhlinne). They try to elope, accompanied by many of their retainers, but someone kills their horses.<ref name=ohogain/><ref name=draught/>

In some versions, the horses are killed by [[Midir]] (Midhir), which may be another name for Ébliu's husband Mairid. [[Aengus|Óengus]] (Aonghus) then appears and gives them an enormous horse that can carry all their belongings. Óengus warns that they must not let the horse rest or it will be their doom.<ref name=ohogain/><ref name=draught/>

After reaching Ulster the horse stops and urinates, and a spring rises from the spot. Echaid builds a house there and covers the spring with a capstone to stop its overflowing. One night, the capstone is not replaced and the spring overflows, drowning Echaid and most of his family, and creating ''Loch n-Echach'' (''Loch nEachach'', the lake of Eachaidh).<ref name=ohogain/><ref name=draught/>

The character Echaid refers to [[the Dagda]], a god of the ancient Irish who was also known as Echaid Ollathair (meaning "horseman, father of all").<ref name=draught/> Ébliu, Midir and Óengus were also names of deities. [[Dáithí Ó hÓgáin]] writes that the idea of a supernatural being creating the landscape with its own body is an ancient one common to many pre-Christian cultures.<ref name=draught/> A [[Gaelic Ireland|Gaelic]] [[sept]] called the [[Iveagh|Uí Echach]] ("descendants of Echaid") dwelt in the area and it is likely their name comes from the cult of the god.<ref name=ohogain/> They gave their name to the territory of [[Iveagh]].

Another tale tells how the lake was formed when Ireland's legendary giant [[Fionn mac Cumhaill]] (Finn McCool) scooped up a chunk of earth and tossed it at a Scottish rival. It fell into the [[Irish Sea]], forming the [[Isle of Man]], while the crater left behind filled with water to form Lough Neagh.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.loughneaghheritage.com/Culture/Folklore---Legends.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922091457/http://www.loughneaghheritage.com/Culture/Folklore---Legends.aspx|title=Lough Neagh Heritage – Culture – Folklore & Legends | url-status = usurped |archive-date=22 September 2013|website=Lough Neagh Heritage}}</ref>

===History===

In 839, a group of [[Vikings]] based a fleet on Lough Neagh, where they wintered during the winter of 840.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Roesdahl |first1=Else |title=The Vikings |date=2016 |publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=978-0-141-98476-6 |page=232 |edition=Third}}</ref> {{anchor|Captain of Lough Neagh}}<!-- [[Captain of Lough Neagh]] redirects here--> Prior to the [[Tudor conquest of Ireland]], the lough had been largely unclaimed by [[Gaelic nobility of Ireland|local Gaelic nobles]], such as the [[O'Neill dynasty|O'Neill]] and [[O'Donnell dynasty|O'Donnell dynasties]]. During the reign of [[Elizabeth I]], an Englishman, [[Clotworthy|Sir Hugh Clotworthy]], settled near [[Antrim, County Antrim|Antrim]] as part of the [[Plantation of Ulster]] and was granted the office of "Captain of Lough Neagh" by the [[Dublin Castle administration]], being paid a [[stipend]] in return for maintaining boats on the lough to enforce [[the Crown]]'s authority. Clotworthy was succeeded in the office by [[John Clotworthy, 1st Viscount Massereene|the 1st Viscount Massereene]] and [[John Skeffington, 2nd Viscount Massereene|the 2nd Viscount Massereene]].<ref name="letter1666">{{cite book |editor-last1=Falkiner |editor-first1=Caesar Litton |editor-last2=Ball |editor-first2=Francis Elrington |title=Calendar of the manuscripts of the Marquess of Ormonde, K. P., preserved at Kilkenny castle; N.S. Vol. III |series=[[Command paper]]s |volume=Cd.1963 |date=1904 |publisher=HMSO |location=London |pages=246–248 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924091754055/page/n271 |chapter=Draft of a Letter relating to the Captain of Lough Neagh |access-date=21 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |editor-last1=Hall |editor-first1=S. C. |editor-last2=Carleton |editor-first2=William |editor-last3=Doyle |editor-first3=Martin |editor-last4=Petrie |editor-first4=George |author1=P. |title=Antrim Castle |journal=The Irish Penny Journal |date=17 April 1841 |pages=329–330 |url=https://archive.org/details/newirishjournalo00hall/page/n336 |location=Dublin |publisher=James Duffy}}</ref> In 1660, [[Charles II of England]] gave the 1st [[Viscount Massereene]] the rights to the fish and bed of the lough.<ref name="letter1666"/> 

During the early seventeenth century, [[Arthur Chichester, 1st Baron Chichester|Sir Arthur Chichester]], later created the 1st [[Baron Chichester]], gradually laid claim to Lough Neagh during the Stuart conquest of [[Ulster]], taking advantage of the [[Flight of the Earls]]. He first laid claim to the lough's infrastructure, then to its boats, then the shores and finally the lough in its entirety, including all relevant fishing rights. It is possible he did this without approval from [[James VI and I]]. The lough was later inherited by [[Edward Chichester, 1st Viscount Chichester|Edward, 1st Viscount Chichester]], Sir Arthur's younger brother; Edward's descendants later married into the Shaftesbury family.<ref name="Irish News"> {{Cite web |date=2023-10-02 |title=Lough Neagh: Tumultuous, tragic history, death, destruction, murder and centuries of controversy |url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2023/10/02/news/lough_neagh_tumultuous_tragic_history_death_destruction_murder_and_centuries_of_controversy-3645599/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=The Irish News |language=en}}</ref> In 2012, it was reported that [[Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, 12th Earl of Shaftesbury|the 12th Earl of Shaftesbury]] was considering transferring ownership of the lough to the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Earl of Shaftesbury does not rule out Lough Neagh sale|date=5 October 2012|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19840966|publisher=BBC News}}</ref> 

In October 2023, Lord Shaftesbury stated in an interview with [[BBC Northern Ireland]] that while he was open to selling Lough Neagh to the Northern Irish public, he would not give it away for free. He stated in the interview that "the sale is one that's borne out of an understanding that my ownership has always been very divisive and quite political and I always get blamed for things that are completely outside of my control. I feel it's often used as an excuse for political inaction and I always want to do the right thing by the people living here and what's in the best interest of the lough."<ref> {{Cite web |date=2023-10-03 |title=Will the Earl of Shaftesbury sell Lough Neagh? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-66996132 |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In February 2024 concerns were raised at the sudden collapse in insect numbers on the Lough and the likely effects this will have on biodiversity in the area.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Greene |first=Tommy |date=2024-02-19 |title='Like the flip of a switch, it's gone': has the ecosystem of the UK's largest lake collapsed? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/19/like-the-flip-of-a-switch-its-gone-has-the-ecosystem-of-the-uk-largest-lake-collapsed-aoe |access-date=2024-02-26 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

== Algal bloom crises ==
Lough Neagh underwent catastrophic [[cyanobacteria]] or blue green algae bloom events in the summer of 2023 and 2024 which reached international news channels.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Reid |first1=Neil |last2=Emmerson |first2=Mark C. |date=2023-10-24 |title=Britain and Ireland's largest lake is dying in plain sight |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03313-x |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=622 |issue=7984 |page=697 |doi=10.1038/d41586-023-03313-x|pmid=37919519 |bibcode=2023Natur.622..697R |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Greene |first=Tommy |date=2023-08-23 |title=Lough Neagh 'dying in plain sight' due to vast algal blooms |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/aug/23/lough-neagh-dying-in-plain-sight-say-campaigners-due-to-vast-algal-blooms |access-date=2024-12-16 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name="CooleyHill"/> This has led to numerous local community and environmental organization responses, such as a mock [[Wake (ceremony)|wake]] for the lake being held in protest and calls for drastic action to solve the problem.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-02 |title='It's in total collapse': Activists call for urgent action to tackle environmental crisis at Lough Neagh |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/its-in-total-collapse-activists-call-for-urgent-action-to-tackle-environmental-crisis-at-lough-neagh/a1170802106.html |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-17 |title=Lough Neagh: Environmentalists hold 'wake' after algal blooms |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-66835897 |access-date=2024-12-16 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Greene |first=Tommy |date=2023-08-23 |title=Lough Neagh 'dying in plain sight' due to vast algal blooms |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/aug/23/lough-neagh-dying-in-plain-sight-say-campaigners-due-to-vast-algal-blooms |access-date=2024-12-16 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The size of these algal blooms in Lough Neagh has allowed them to be visible from space.
These algal blooms have the potential to have significant impacts on the lakes ecology due to the toxins they produce posing a serious risk to wildlife, including birds and fish, risking declines in populations and disrupting the food web.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Reid |first1=Neil |last2=Reyne |first2=Marina I. |last3=O'Neill |first3=William |last4=Greer |first4=Brett |last5=He |first5=Qiqi |last6=Burdekin |first6=Oliver |last7=McGrath |first7=John W. |last8=Elliott |first8=Chris T. |date=2024-08-01 |title=Unprecedented Harmful algal bloom in the UK and Ireland's largest lake associated with gastrointestinal bacteria, microcystins and anabaenopeptins presenting an environmental and public health risk |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024005208 |journal=Environment International |volume=190 |article-number=108934 |doi=10.1016/j.envint.2024.108934 |pmid=39106632 |bibcode=2024EnInt.19008934R |issn=0160-4120|doi-access=free }}</ref> In addition, the growth of the algal blooms depletes oxygen in the water which can cause fish kills.<ref name=":0" /> There are also threats to human health from toxins and pathogens detected in the algal mats found in the lake.<ref name=":0" />

These harmful algal blooms have a number factors contributing to their occurrence in Lough Neagh. The foremost contributory factor is the eutrophication of the lake with nutrients like phosphorus and nitrates which have provided suitable conditions for the algae to thrive.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davies |first=Olivia |date=2024-06-27 |title=Algal Blooms and Lough Neagh |url=https://www.assemblyresearchmatters.org/2024/06/27/algal-blooms-and-lough-neagh/ |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Research Matters |language=en-GB}}</ref> The lake has been classified as one of the world's most hyper-eutrophic water-bodies due to chronic eutrophication occurring over many years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Degradation of Water Quality in Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland, by Diffuse Nitrogen Flux from a Phosphorus-rich Catchment {{!}} Request PDF |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251893592 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240212090626/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251893592_Degradation_of_Water_Quality_in_Lough_Neagh_Northern_Ireland_by_Diffuse_Nitrogen_Flux_from_a_Phosphorus-rich_Catchment |archive-date=2024-02-12 |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=ResearchGate |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dwyer |first=Orla |date=2023-10-19 |title=Lough Neagh: How climate change intensified toxic algae on the UK's largest lake |url=https://www.carbonbrief.org/lough-neagh-how-climate-change-intensified-toxic-algae-on-the-uks-largest-lake/ |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Carbon Brief |language=en}}</ref> Key drivers of this eutrophication are increases in nitrates and phosphates in the lake which are generally attributed to runoff from agriculture in the form of animal slurry residue of chemical fertilizer in addition to human sewage.<ref>Cave, S., Allen, M., & Research and Information Service. (2023). An overview of algal bloom in Lough Neagh. In ''NIAR 138-23 Briefing Paper'' (pp. 1–4) [Report]. <nowiki>https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/documents/raise/publications/2022-2027/2024/aera/0624.pdf</nowiki></ref> Research has indicated that 62% of the phosphorus inputs are from agricultural origins, 24% are from wastewater treatment works and 12% are from septic tanks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-02 |title=RePhoKUs Report (Oct 2020) |url=https://www.afbini.gov.uk/publications/rephokus-report-oct-2020 |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute |language=en}}</ref>

A number of other environmental factors have contributed to the occurrence of the harmful algal blooms. Climate change has contributed to increasing summer temperatures of, and sunlight intensity on, the lake, creating more suitable conditions for rapid growth of harmful algal blooms. As the lake is relatively shallow with an average depth of 9m, its temperature can increase more rapidly than other deeper lakes, making it more susceptible to algal blooms.<ref name=":1">The Lough Neagh Report: Blue Green algae and water quality in Northern Ireland. (2024). In ''The Lough Neagh Report''. <nowiki>https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/daera/Lough%20Neagh%20Report%20and%20Action%20Plan.pdf</nowiki></ref> 

The invasive [[zebra mussel]] mollusc species which has invaded the lake has resulted in the lake water having greater clarity and so penetration of light. The increase in light intensity deeper in the water column has increased the chance of harmful algal blooms occurring. The zebra mussel which is a filter feeder on phytoplankton in the lake, will selectively feed on existing phytoplankton species but not on the blue green algae, creating a lower ecological competition scenario for these algae.<ref name=":1" />

When the algal bloom crisis of 2023 occurred, the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]] was suspended and Northern Ireland had no functioning [[Northern Ireland Executive|devolved government]]. The [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]] MLA [[Matthew O'Toole]] referred to the state of the lough as "a metaphor for the poisoned state of politics and governance in the North". After the Assembly and Executive were restored in February 2024, all major parties agreed that action was required to address the crisis, and by July 2024 an action plan proposed by the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, the [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland|Alliance Party]]'s [[Andrew Muir (politician)|Andrew Muir]] had been agreed,<ref name="CooleyHill"/><ref name="q786">{{cite journal | last=John | first=Patrizia | title=Beyond Groups? Consociational Culture and the Representation of Cross‐Segmental Interests | journal=Swiss Political Science Review | date=14 July 2025 | issn=1424-7755 | doi=10.1111/spsr.70004 | doi-access=free | page=}}</ref> although some aspects of the plan had to be scaled back due to resistance from the [[Democratic Unionist Party]].<ref name="CooleyHill">{{cite journal | last1=Cooley | first1=Laurence | last2=Hill | first2=Elliott | title=Are the Rights of Nature the Only Way to Save Lough Neagh? | journal=The Political Quarterly | date=11 April 2025 | issn=0032-3179 | doi=10.1111/1467-923X.13532 | doi-access=free | page=}}</ref>

Some environmental activists have argued that the lough needs to be brought into community ownership and granted rights, inspired by the global [[rights of nature]] movement.<ref name="CooleyHill"/><ref name="k783">{{cite journal | last=Doran | first=Peter | title=Are Lough Neagh and the rights of nature the unfinished business of 'the peace process'? | journal=Administration | volume=72 | issue=4 | date=1 December 2024 | issn=2449-9471 | doi=10.2478/admin-2024-0034 | doi-access=free | pages=209–236}}</ref><ref name="o998">{{cite web | last=Corr | first=Shauna | title=Lough Neagh: Partnership considering 'rights of nature' for hard hit lake | website=Belfast Live | date=28 February 2024 | url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/lough-neagh-partnership-considering-rights-28704731 | access-date=13 May 2025}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Loughneagh.jpg|Lough Neagh at Killywoolaghan, [[County Tyrone]]
File:Lough Neagh - geograph.org.uk - 126920.jpg|Lough Neagh near Ardmore Point
File:Lough Neagh at Shane's Castle - geograph.org.uk - 155427.jpg|Lough Neagh at [[Shane's Castle]], [[County Antrim]]
File:Lough Neagh from Gawley's Gate Quay - geograph.org.uk - 59139.jpg|Lough Neagh at [[Gawley's Gate]], County Antrim
File:Maghery Country Park - geograph.org.uk - 51880.jpg|Lough Neagh at [[Maghery]], [[County Armagh]]
File:Ballyronan Picnic area - geograph.org.uk - 226655.jpg|Lough Neagh at [[Ballyronan]], [[County Londonderry]]
</gallery>

==See also==
{{portal|Lakes}}
*[[List of loughs of Ireland]]
* [[List of tourist attractions in Ireland]]
*[[Lough Beg]]
*[[Portmore Lough]]
*[[Lí Ban (mermaid)]] – another legend about the creation of the Lough

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|title=Lough Neagh: The Ecology of a Multipurpose Water Resource|volume=69|series=Monographiae Biologicae|editor1-first=R.B.|editor1-last=Wood|editor2-first=R.V.|editor2-last=Smith|publisher=Springer|year=1993|isbn=978-0-7923-2112-5}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Collier's poster|Neagh, Lough|Lough Neagh}}
*[http://www.discoverloughneagh.com Discover Lough Neagh]
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100514213658/http://loughneaghheritage.com/ Lough Neagh Heritage]}}
*[http://www.loughneaghrescue.co.uk Lough Neagh Rescue]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/2785671.stm BBC News on pollution]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4491127.stm BBC News on ownership of Lough Neagh]

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neagh}}
[[Category:Lough Neagh| ]]
[[Category:Places in Celtic mythology]]
[[Category:Ramsar sites in Northern Ireland]]