A disappearing Irish lake discovered

Fears disappearing Irish lake may vanish again

JAMES O'BRIEN,

Published Monday, June 21, 2010, 11:33 AM

Updated Tuesday, June 22, 2010, 2:29 PM

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Lough Funshinagh the disappearing lake, Roscommon

The current summer drought in Ireland is leading to fears that a major lake will once again disappear overnight.

On Monday November 22, 1955, Lough Funshinagh in County Roscommon completely disappeared in moments.
It has since re-appeared.

Accounts at the time in the Westmeath Independent describe an incredible scene as thousands of fish were stranded and swans and geese suddenly found themselves without any water.

"Nature was in the mood for magic in County Roscommon on Monday when sharp at 12 noon Lough Funshinagh with a farewell roar completely disappeared." the newspaper wrote.

An eyewitness, Nicholas Cummins told the newspaper that he was trying to catch a few fish when the lake with a loud gurgle suddenly completely disappeared into a huge cavity at the foot of the nearby Ardmullen Hills.

Thomas Cunningham, another fisherman stated "As the fish strugled about in the water pouring off the lake the fisherman threw them up as fast as they could" he said .

Up to 200 swans were left homeless by the lake's disappearance and flew off to a nearby lake, Lough Ree.

The lake regularly goes dry according to local fisherman and has to do with a local subterranean channel that connects it with Lough Ree three miles away.

During prolonged drought, as Lough Ree drops to an abnormally low level, it drains off Lough Funshinagh.

Nster.com

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feliciamaisey | Jun 27, 2010, 01:44 PM EDT

the irishdj--thank you for your first hand knowledge.I find this phenominon fascinating and as a writer myself, I appreciate your adding your personal notes. Fascinating.

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theirishdj | Jun 22, 2010, 06:04 PM EDT

I grew up in Rahara which is one of the parishes in which the Lough is located.I remember the 1955 event but more clearly a dissapearance in the early 60's when I took home "tons" of pike on my bicycle.On that occasion it took about a week to empty and anybody who tells you it emptied faster than that is "codding" you. If all the water in the Lough sudenly appeared in the Shannon I guarantee you Athlone and the surrounding are would be in major trouble. This is not a little lake a few feet deep,I'm sure it is at leat 12 feet deep in places and covers at least hundreds of acres in three parishes. It is big enough to show up on maps of Roscommon and may be 4 or 5 miles long. In 1988 when my son and I were on vacation from America the lake again dissapeared in about a week and we caught many pike in the water which was flowing into the ground on the Ardmeullen side. And we were there when for all intense and purpose the lake had finished being a lake and there were many fish left to die on the ground.Of course that last day is an event as it winds up as land but millions of gallons would have flowed out over days or even weeks before, and I believe water is always draining out on the Ardmullen side.In 1955 I thought the event took place later than November as I remember hearing my uncle Thomas who lived in Ardmullen being inerviewed on Radio Eireann. Maybe it started in November and dragged on into December but I doubt it disappeared overnight. I have been writing for the Roscommon Champion for 47 years was the voice of Ireland on radio in Long Island and the voice of Americaon Radio West in Mullingar.

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