Lough Marrave


Lough Marrave is a small freshwater lake in county Leitrim in the northwest of Ireland.

Etymology

translates to "". It is plausible Lough Marrave served a pagan sacrificial purpose, and the Keshcarrigan Bowl was deposited there as a ritual offering. There is a reference in the "" to an unidentified and "" on the "road to Fenagh", with a marginal note attributed to Tadgh O'Roddy adding: "". Nevertheless, the origin of the "Dead lake" etymology remains speculative and unknown.

Geography

Lough Marrave lies north east of Keshcarrigan village, and east of Lough Scur. The lake is very small and shallow, covering a surface-area of about, and might be considered a continuation of Lough Scur, as they share the same level and connected by a half-mile channel. Lough Marrave is connected to St. John's Lough and Lough Scur by the Shannon–Erne Waterway.

Ecology

The presence, and type, of fish found in Lough Marrave is not recorded. The ecology of Leitrim waterways, such as Lough Marrave, is threatened by zebra mussel and other invasive species.

Human settlement

The primary human settlements at Lough Marrave are Keshcarrigan and Fenagh villages. Lough Marrave is bounded by the townlands of Gubroe to the south and east, Killmacsherwell to the north, and Rossy to the west.

Heritage

The Keshcarrigan Bowl was discovered in the canal between Lough Scur and Lough Marrave in the 19th century,, and is today preserved at the National Museum of Ireland.

Citations

Primary references

Secondary references