Lough Neagh.

Lough Neagh is the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles and Ireland it is 29 km (18 MI) long and 12km (7.5MI) wide and has an area of 383 sq km (147 sq MI). It has an average depth of 8.9 M (29 ft) It is situated in mid Ulster.

The rivers feeding the lake include the Upper Bann, which rises in the Mourne Mountains and flows north for forty miles before entering the Lough, the Blackwater, the Main, . Lough Neagh is drained by the Lower Bann, which leaves the Lough at Toome and flows north to the North Channel. Fishing for eels is carried on in a few places, long lines was the preferred method of fishing.

During the late 1960's early 70's the Lough experienced serious algae blooms as a result of pollution. The situation has been reversed now and drinking water is extracted in several places. The Lough has several marine and water sport Center's

Read about Lough Neagh from Samuel Lewis' Topographical Directory of Ireland.

Lough Neagh once had an extensive eel fishery, the industry is still carried on but not to the same extent as in earlier time. In the late 60's early 70's of the last century the fishing rights to Lough Neagh were in the hands of an absentee English landlord. A campaign was launched headed by Father Oliver Kennedy who aimed to bring the rights under the control of the fishermen.Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Cooperative Society

In 1965, Father Kennedy founded a cooperative society and began raising money to buy shares in the London-based company. It took six years, but by 1971, the cooperative had accumulated enough shares to buy the company out and take control of the fishing rights. It was a coup of 'David and Goliath' proportions and it made the front page of many local newspapers.