Overview
Lough Owel lies north of Mullingar in County Westmeath. It is a spring-fed lake, and it gets busy on warm days. The lake’s outflow once fed the Royal Canal, carrying goods between Dublin and the Shannon.
History and islands
Lough Owel (Irish: Loch Uail) has six islands, four of them named: Church, Srudarra, Lady’s and Carrickphilbin. Church Island takes its name from the ruins of St Loman’s Oratory, an early medieval hermitage. By tradition, the Viking chieftain Turgesius was dragged from his boat and drowned in the lough in 845 on the orders of the High King Máel Sechnaill.
What to see and do
Can you swim in Lough Owel?
Portnashangan is the designated bathing area. Check the EPA’s Portnashangan page and the signs by the water before swimming, as notices vary through the season. Use the signed public entrance and keep off neighbouring farmland.
Angling
Lough Owel is a managed Inland Fisheries Ireland trout fishery. The lough is known for brown trout. Buy the required permit and check the current season, rules and access points before fishing.
Greenway and water sports
The Royal Canal Greenway runs through Mullingar, but check current route information before planning a ride out to the lake and do not assume an off-road link all the way. Check locally for any water sports hire.
Birdwatching
Early mornings are best for waders and swans on the water. The surrounding farmland is a wintering ground for Greenland white-fronted geese, but that’s a winter sight; come in summer and you’ll see waterfowl, not geese. The lake and its marshes are a Special Area of Conservation, a Special Protection Area for birds and a Ramsar wetland.
Multyfarnham
The village of Multyfarnham, a few kilometres north, is built around a Franciscan friary that has kept a congregation for centuries, and its grounds carry life-sized Stations of the Cross. A little further on, Abbey Blooms Botanical Gardens is a landscaped community garden. Check its opening before you go.
Practical information
- Access and parking: use signed public entrances and car parks only, keep off neighbouring farmland and keep entrances clear.
- Transport: Lough Owel is reached from the N4. Check current bus and rail services to Mullingar before you travel.
- Facilities: check what is available on site before you go, as facilities and notices change.
Nearby attractions
- Belvedere House Estate and Jealous Wall – an 18th-century mansion with formal gardens and a stone folly.
- Hill of Uisneach – the traditional ceremonial centre of Ireland.
- Fore – Abbey and Seven Wonders – a monastic site with a round tower and medieval ruins.
- Kilbeggan Distillery – a historic whiskey distillery.
- Lough Derravaragh – a scenic lake tied to the Children of Lir myth.
Come on a warm weekday if you want a quieter shore, and always follow the signs and any bathing notices.