Overview
Lough Mask (Irish: Loch Measca) is the fourth-largest lake in the Republic of Ireland – sixth-largest on the island – and one of its great wild brown-trout fisheries: about 83 square kilometres (22,000 acres) of limestone water straddling the County Mayo and County Galway border, just north of Lough Corrib. It is really two lakes in temperament. The eastern half is shallow and freckled with islands; the western side, Upper Lough Mask, drops away fast to a maximum of about 58 metres. It holds more water than any other lake in the Republic – some 1.3 cubic kilometres – which is worth remembering when the wind gets up: the deep western channels turn rough quickly, and casual boaters are far better off in the sheltered eastern bays, or out with someone who knows the water.
Water arrives from Lough Carra and leaves by a strange route, draining through the Cong Canal and a network of underground limestone channels into the River Cong and on to Lough Corrib. The surrounding country is limestone karst, low hills and woodland, and the lake forms part of the Wild Atlantic Way’s inland edge.
History and local lore
In 1338, Sir Edmond de Burgh met his end in the waters of Lough Mask during the Burke Civil War. Three centuries later the scribe Dáibhídh Bacach Ó Duibhgeannáin took up residence on Red Island (Oileán Ruadh), copying and preserving Irish manuscripts. The lake also carries a darker memory: the 1882 ‘Lough Mask Murders’, when a bailiff grandfather and grandson were killed during the Land War and their bodies put into the lake.
Early Christian heritage survives on Inishmaan, where the ruins of a church dedicated to St Cormac – built in the 6th century, extended in the 12th – stand quietly above the water. Folklore fills in the rest: Bly Island is linked to a banshee whose calls are said to carry across still evenings.
Fishing and watersports
Lough Mask is internationally known for its brown trout, and it produces trophy fish year after year, alongside pike and perch for the coarse angler. The open season runs from 15 February to 30 September, with wet-fly fishing hitting its stride from mid-April. Each year the lake hosts the World Cup Trout Fly Fishing Championship at Cushlough Bay near Ballinrobe. A valid rod licence from the fisheries authority is required.
Anglers favour a handful of spots:
- Cushlough – The main access point, with an information centre and boat hire.
- Burnthouse Bay – A sheltered inlet that fishes well in early spring.
- Bay of Islands (Trá na Gréine) – Currents and island edges make productive feeding zones.
- Ram’s Horn Bay – Deeper water that holds ferox trout.
For paddles rather than rods, the Petersburg Outdoor Education Centre on the Galway shore runs kayaking, sailing, canoeing and orienteering, with accommodation from self-catering to camping.
Exploring the islands
The lake’s many islands are a boat trip’s reward – there’s little formal infrastructure, but that’s rather the point. Inishmaan is the one to aim for, its early Christian ruins a short walk from the landing. The shallow eastern bays suit calm family outings; the deeper western channels are for those comfortable in open water.
Walking and nearby attractions
The shoreline and hills carry a network of routes. The Colburn Loop (9.4km) is an easy woodland walk with clear views over the water; for hillwalkers, the Maumtrasna route (17.4km) climbs steeply to long views over the lake and Connemara.
A short drive south is the village of Cong, where the drainage system surfaces at the River Cong. Cong is worth the detour for Cong Abbey and, for film buffs of a certain vintage, the Quiet Man connections that still define the place. Ballintubber Abbey, founded in 1216 and in continuous use since, lies to the north-east and is open daily 9am–9pm, free to enter. On the western shore, Tourmakeady makes a practical base, with a working harbour and lake views.
Lough Mask Distillery
In Tourmakeady, the Lough Mask Distillery opened in 2018 and has become a popular stop. The craft distillery makes gin and vodka, with whiskey planned. Guided tours run Monday to Friday at 11am, noon, 1pm and 2pm, last about an hour and cost €15 per person, taking in the alembic stills and a tasting of the current range. Book ahead – daily capacity is limited – and there’s free parking beside the visitor centre.
Practical information
Access to the lake is free. There is public parking at several points, including the Petersburg Outdoor Education Centre, Cushlough Bay, Tourmakeady Pier, and lay-bys near Cong. Anglers should sort a rod licence before arriving.
Lough Mask is also a designated Special Protection Area for its birdlife, so give nesting sites a wide berth in spring.
Getting there
The lake sits roughly 30km north-west of Galway city. The most direct approach is via the N84 and R310 through Cong and Clonbur. Public transport is limited to regional buses stopping at Cong and Ballinrobe, with taxis for onward legs to specific access points.