Lough Funshinagh
   
Two views of Lough Funshinagh
    
The name Lough Funshinagh means 'the lake of the ash'.
Lough Funshinagh is a turlough. Turloughs are sometimes called disappearing lakes because they can disappear for part of the year. They are found in limestone areas. Turloughs usually fill and empty through holes, called swallow holes, in the turlough floor. Water sinking in the swallow hole will travel underground to a spring which can be several kilometres away. There are other turloughs that are filled by rivers and streams flowing into them, as well as by water rising from underground. Lough Funshinagh is fed by springs and is surrounded by pasture land. There are a number of islands off the eastern side which are never totally flooded. Lough Funshinagh disappears about two or three times every ten years.
Bird and Animal Life
Heron
Lapwing
Mallard
Kingfisher
Swan
Lough Funshinagh is a wildlife sanctuary. It is an excellent breeding habitat for wild fowl. It is also important for wintering waterfowl. Among the regular winter visitors are Bewick's Swan, Whooper Swan, Golden Plover, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Coot, Lapwing and Curlew.
In Summer the Lake attracts many different breeding waterfowl including Black-necked Grebe, Pintail, Gadwall, Lapwing, Snipe, Redshank and Ringed Plover. The Common Frog breeds here too.
 
Plant Life
Columbine
Spearwort
Marshpennywort
Orchid
Watermint

Plant life:
In the open water in Lough Funshinagh there are beds of common Club-rush Tufted Sedge, Slender Sedge and Bottle Sedge. The common reed is also to be seen. The shallower parts of the lake contain Carnation Sedge, Common Sedge, Water Spearwort, Water Mint, Water Ragwort, Marsh Bedstraw and Tufted Forget-Me-Not.
Along the lake edge Bent Grass, Marsh Pennywort and Silverweed grow. Gorse grows near the lake.