Insel · Co. Mayo
Achill Island
Achill is Ireland's largest western island, connected to the mainland since 1887. It features dramatic headlands, historic lighthouses, and a community that blends farming with tourism.
The lough
Lough Conn sits in County Mayo. The Irish name, Loch Con, translates to "lake of the hound." It covers about 48 square kilometres (19 sq mi). That makes it Ireland’s seventh largest lake. To the south lies Lough Cullin. The River Moy links this water country to the Atlantic Ocean. Anglers come for the trout and salmon. On the shore, the ruins of Errew Abbey stand where a priory once was.
The name in the old tales
Gaelic mythology offers different stories about how the name came about. One account features Fionn mac Cumhaill. He was hunting with two hounds, Conn and Cullin. The group found a wild boar. As the boar ran, water followed its path. The lough formed in that wake. The name sticks to the hound. Conn is the lake’s Irish name. Cullin is the neighbour to the south. The tale ties the water, the boar, and the dogs together.
The ground around it
The Nephin Mountains rise to the north. The Ox Mountains sit to the south. Lough Cullin borders the main lough on its southern edge. The River Moy provides the link to the Atlantic. This is the water country of the Moy valley. It holds the fishing, the abbey, and the shoreline. A walk along the shore takes in the water and the mountains on either side. The lough acts as a base for the Glen Nephin country to the north. It also serves the Foxford country to the south.
Practical
Lough Conn is in the Moy valley, between the Nephin and Ox Mountains. Check the fishing details before the trip. The shore walk is the walk to do first. It is open water. Check conditions before getting on a boat. The shore is rough underfoot in wet weather.
