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'''Carlingford Lough''' (]: ''Loch Cairlinn'' – ''Cairlinn'' being shortened form of ''Cathair Linn'' literally translated as "City of the Pool") is a sea ] or ] that forms part of the international border between ] to the north and the ] to the south. At its extreme interior angle (the northwest corner) it is fed by the ] and the ], which link it to the nearby city of ] (the Canal continues on towards the ] and ]; the river, under the name ], loops around County Down). '''Carlingford Lough''' (]: ''Loch Cairlinn'' – ''Cairlinn'' being a shortened form of ''Cathair Linn'', which means "stone ] of the pool") is a glacial ] or sea ] that forms part of the international border between ] to the north and the ] to the south. At its extreme interior angle (the northwest corner) it is fed by the ] and the ], which link it to the nearby city of ] (the Canal continues on towards the ] and ]; the river, under the name ], loops around County Down). The only other known glacial fjords in Ireland are ] and ].


On the northern side, in ], are the coastal towns of ] and ], backed by the ]. On the southern coast are ], ] and ] backed by the ], all on the ] in ]. On the northern side, in ], are the coastal towns of ] and ], backed by the ]. On the southern coast are ], ] and ] backed by the ], all on the ] in ].
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==History== ==History==
On 3 November 1916 two steamers, the ] and the ''SS Retriever'', collided and sank in the loch with the loss of ninety-four lives. In the late 1980s ], the then Irish Taoiseach sailed his yacht into Carlingford Lough and raised an ]. As Carlingford Lough is half in the ], the ] thought he was in the U.K. and believed he was a ], and grew suspicious. They pursued him. As they left dock, the Taoiseach realised what was happening. He called in the re-enforcements of Irish Navy ship ], which was close by. Eithne sailed to the mouth of the Lough and stopped, effectively barricading the Royal Navy gunboat in.
On 3 November 1916 two steamers, the ] and the ''SS Retriever'', collided and sank in the loch with the loss of ninety-four lives.


==Tourism== ==Tourism==
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==Flora and fauna== ==Flora and fauna==
The northern shores contain mudflats and ], so provide winter feeding areas for the ], ''Branta bernicla hrota''. At the mouth of the lough are several small rock and shingle islands which are breeding areas for ]s, which feed in its shallow waters. The lough has suffered damage in recent years to its natural ecology and biodiversity due to the impacts of a mussel dredging industry.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} The northern shores contain mudflats and ], so provide winter feeding areas for the ], ''Branta bernicla hrota''. At the mouth of the lough are several small rock and shingle islands which are breeding areas for ]s, which feed in its shallow waters.


==Ramsar site== ==Ramsar site==
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==External links== ==External links==
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{{coord|54.07329|N|6.19938|W|source:placeopedia|display=title}} {{coord|54.07329|N|6.19938|W|source:placeopedia|display=title}}
{{County Down}}


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Revision as of 16:46, 3 November 2010

Carlingford Lough
LocationNorthern Ireland - Republic of Ireland border
TypeInlet
Primary inflowsNewry River, Newry Canal
Basin countriesNorthern Ireland, Republic of Ireland

Carlingford Lough (Irish: Loch Cairlinn – Cairlinn being a shortened form of Cathair Linn, which means "stone ringfort of the pool") is a glacial fjord or sea inlet that forms part of the international border between Northern Ireland to the north and the Republic of Ireland to the south. At its extreme interior angle (the northwest corner) it is fed by the Newry River and the Newry Canal, which link it to the nearby city of Newry (the Canal continues on towards the River Bann and Lough Neagh; the river, under the name River Clanrye, loops around County Down). The only other known glacial fjords in Ireland are Lough Swilly and Killary Harbour.

On the northern side, in County Down, are the coastal towns of Warrenpoint and Rostrevor, backed by the Mourne Mountains. On the southern coast are Omeath, Carlingford and Greenore backed by the Cooley Mountains, all on the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth.

In older sources, Carlingford Lough is called Snám Aignech (meaning "swift channel", "swift shallows").

History

On 3 November 1916 two steamers, the SS Connemara and the SS Retriever, collided and sank in the loch with the loss of ninety-four lives. In the late 1980s Charles Haughey, the then Irish Taoiseach sailed his yacht into Carlingford Lough and raised an Irish Tri Colour. As Carlingford Lough is half in the U.K., the Royal Navy thought he was in the U.K. and believed he was a Republican, and grew suspicious. They pursued him. As they left dock, the Taoiseach realised what was happening. He called in the re-enforcements of Irish Navy ship LÉ Eithne, which was close by. Eithne sailed to the mouth of the Lough and stopped, effectively barricading the Royal Navy gunboat in.

Tourism

Carlingford Lough is a popular venue for sea angling and yachting. Lough cruises are now a regular feature on the Lough during the summer months.

Flora and fauna

The northern shores contain mudflats and salt marsh, so provide winter feeding areas for the Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Branta bernicla hrota. At the mouth of the lough are several small rock and shingle islands which are breeding areas for terns, which feed in its shallow waters.

Ramsar site

The mouth of Carlingford Lough from Knockree.

The Carlingford Lough Ramsar site (wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention), is 830.51 hectares in area, at Latitude 54 03 00 N and Longitude 06 07 00 W. It was designated a Ramsar site on 9 March 1998. It is a cross-border site. The northern shore is in Northern Ireland and includes the most significant mudflats in the lough, and an area of salt marsh. The southern shore is in the republic of Ireland. At the mouth of the lough are several small rock and shingle islands which are of importance to terns. The Ramsar Site lies between Killowen Point and Soldiers Point on the northern shores of Carlingford Lough and the landward boundary coincides entirely with that of the Carlingford Lough Area of Special Scientific Interest and the Carlingford Lough Special Protection Area.

The site qualified under Criterion 2 of the Ramsar Convention because it supports important groups of vulnerable and endangered Irish Red Data Book bird species. It supports nationally important breeding populations of Common Tern. Roseate Terns returned to the site after an absence of six years with two breeding pairs recorded in 1997. It has also supported nationally important numbers of Arctic Tern. It also qualified under Criterion 3c for supporting internationally important breeding populations of Sandwich Tern and of overwintering Light-bellied Brent Geese.

See also

References

  1. James Henthorn Todd, Cogad Gaedel re Gallaib (1867), p. lxiii.
  2. ^ "Designated and Proposed Ramsar sites in Northern Ireland" (PDF). Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  3. ^ "Carlingford Lough Ramsar site". NI Environment Agency. Retrieved 2008-07-07.

External links

54°04′24″N 6°11′58″W / 54.07329°N 6.19938°W / 54.07329; -6.19938

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