Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
Lough Derravaragh is located approximately 12 km north of Mullingar town, in County Westmeath. The River Inny flows into and out of the north-west end of the lake, which is wide and shallow with extensive reedbed and swamp, backed by small areas of raised bog. The south-east arm of the lake is long and narrow, with freshwater marsh and fen. The lake is important for fishing and is used for water-sports.
The same flock of
Anser albifrons flavirostris also uses sites 135, 136, 139 and 140. Other species which occur in numbers of national importance are
Tachybaptus ruficollis (34 birds, 1996),
Cygnus olor (128 birds, 1996),
Aythya fuligula (1,800 birds, 1996) and
Fulica atra (643 birds, 1996).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Nutrient pollution, due to agricultural intensification, threatens habitat quality. There is increasing pressure on the site due to recreation activities and wildfowling may cause some disturbance to birds.
National None
International High1,120 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Lough Derravaragh, 1,120 ha). 1,120 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Lough Derravaragh, 1,120 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lough Derravaragh (Ireland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lough-derravaragh-iba-ireland on 24/11/2024.
