Lough Key

Jet Skiing on Lough Key

A view of Lough Key from Co. Roscommon, with Castle Island in the background. The photo shows a person jet skiing. Lough Key is a popular lake for water sports enthusiasts.

Courtesy of Roscommon County Council.

Jet Skiing on Lough Key
Courtesy of Roscommon County Council.

Jet Skiing on Lough Key

A view of Lough Key from Co. Roscommon, with Castle Island in the background. The photo shows a person jet skiing. Lough Key is a popular lake for water sports enthusiasts.

Courtesy of Roscommon County Council.

Enlarge image

Lough Key is three miles wide and almost circular. There are over thirty small islands on the lake. Several of the islands were once famous for the monasteries that were established on them.

There are the ruins of an abbey on Trinity Island, and on Church Island the ruins of a ninth-century church can be found. The island pictured above is Castle Island. The ruins of an ancient castle can be found there.

There is a legend associated with Lough Key about two young people who fell in love. They were Una Bháin MacDermott and Thomas Laidir McCostello. Their families were bitter enemies, so the young pair were forbidden from seeing each other.

Lough Key

A view of Lough Key from Co. Roscommon. Castle Island can also be seen in the photograph.

Courtesy of Roscommon County Council.

Lough Key
Courtesy of Roscommon County Council.

Lough Key

A view of Lough Key from Co. Roscommon. Castle Island can also be seen in the photograph.

Courtesy of Roscommon County Council.

Enlarge image

Una's father was so angry about the romance that he banished her to Castle Island where she became ill and died. She was buried on Trinity Island. Heartbroken, Thomas swam out to her grave every night, but before long the cold waters of the lake weakened his health and he developed pneumonia. On his deathbed, he begged Una's father to allow him to be buried next to his sweetheart. Una's father consented, and it is said that two rose trees grew over their grave and became entwined.