On 25 July 1878 a schoolmaster, Michael McCabe, took his pupils out onto Lough Sillan in a boat. A short way from shore it capsized and sank, and 17 people drowned – the principal, his wife, two staff and 13 children – one of the worst inland drowning disasters in Irish history. A stone memorial at Annafarney, on the western shore near the slipway, still lists their names. It’s the first thing to know about this otherwise easygoing lake just outside Shercock in County Cavan, an hour’s drive from both Dublin and Belfast.
The lakeshore
Most of what a visitor comes for here is free and public. Sillan Lakeshore Park, on the Cootehill road, has a 300 m tarmac path that’s genuinely accessible, along with a playground, picnic benches, goalposts, fishing pegs and parking. The shoreline is open for walking, swimming and fishing. Coarse anglers take hybrids, roach, bream, tench, perch and pike – no rod licence is needed for this water, but bring your own tackle. The lake covers about 162 hectares, and windsurfers, kayakers and small boats all use it. One honest note: a mobile-home park sits on part of the shore, so this is a working local amenity rather than untouched wilderness.
The house, gardens and spa
Lough Sillan House, built in 1819 as a glebe house, stands in 9.5 acres of mature gardens sloping down to the water. Many of the veteran trees were planted by the Rev. Frederick Fitzpatrick, a 19th-century rector; the borders and a small pond were added in a replanting in the early 2000s. It shifts with the seasons – bluebells under copper beeches in spring, azaleas and rhododendrons after, roses in summer, and long lake views that only open up once the leaves drop.
The estate lets three restored adult-only cottages: a converted 200-year-old stable that sleeps four (the one dog-friendly option), and two couples’ cottages with wood-burning stoves, all three bookable together for a group of up to eight. Guests share a lakeside platform with a hot tub, sauna and relaxation room on allocated time slots, plus an outdoor kitchen with a barbecue and pizza oven, and the use of kayaks.
The lake in print
Lough Sillan has long been praised for its colour – a faint azure tinge over the water – and a 19th-century verse rated its shores above the Glens of Wicklow and the Cliffs of Moher. That’s local pride talking, but the blue is real enough on a still day.
Nature
Reed-lined banks bring swans, herons and ducks, with the odd kingfisher, and the gardens and woodland hold native flora that changes through the year. Lough Sillan House runs guided biodiversity walks during National Biodiversity Week in May, led by heritage experts.
Nearby attractions
- Dún na Rí Forest Park – riverside walks and follies, about a 15-minute drive.
- Annagh Lake – a short drive north, popular for swimming and angling.
- Castle Lake – woodland walks and castle ruins.
- Cavan Burren Park – ancient dolmens and scenic loops in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
- Belfast – an easy run north for a city day out.
Practical information
- Admission: Free entry to the lake, public paths, playground and Sillan Lakeshore Park. Cottages and spa are by booking.
- Parking: Free near the mobile-home park, the estate entrance and the Lakeshore Park.
- Fishing: No rod licence is required for coarse fishing here; bring your own gear.
- Accessibility: The Lakeshore Park path and playground are level; the historic cottages and spa platform involve steps, so guests with mobility needs should contact the hosts in advance.
- Getting there: From Dublin, take the M1 to the N2, then the Cavan–Shercock road. From Belfast, the A5 to the N2. The estate is signposted from the main road.
- Booking: Cottages are booked directly at loughsillanhouse.com, by email (hello@loughsillanhouse.com) or phone, with some dates listed on Airbnb.
For a free morning, park at the Lakeshore Park on the Cootehill road and walk the accessible loop out to the Annafarney memorial – the lake does the rest.