IE036
Lough Gara


Country/territory: Ireland

IBA criteria met: B1i, B3, C3 (2000)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here

Area: 1,788 hectares (17.88 km2)

BirdWatch Ireland

Site description (2000 baseline)
Lough Gara, in Counties Sligo and Roscommon, is situated 7 km west of Boyle at its northern end and 7 km north-east of Ballaghadereen at its southern margin. It is a shallow limestone lake, with a maximum depth of 16 m. To the south it is fed by the Lunge and Breedoge rivers, while in the north it drains into the River Shannon via the River Boyle. The lakeshore comprises reedbed and marsh, which extend along the River Boyle and within the lake are low-lying islands. Adjoining the lake is raised bog. Land-uses include peat-cutting (`Other' land-use).

Key biodiversity
This is an important site for wintering wildfowl.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lough Gara (Ireland). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lough-gara-iba-ireland on 29/12/2024.