Fanciful folklore of the 19th century claimed Lough Scur was named from Oscar son of Oisín, and his grave lay at Aghascur, "the field of the Scur".[3] However, it is pointed out the word "Scur" (Irish: Scor, genitive scuir) has various meanings, and probably translates to "lake of the horse-stud". O’Donovan suggests 'Scuir' means "lake of the camp", and the placenames database of Ireland suggests Lough Scuir means "the lake of the horses, pasturage, troop".[3]
Geography
Lough Scur, Corglass (looking south)
Lough Scur is about 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) northwest of Keshcarrigan. It covers an area of 1.14 square kilometres (0.4 sq mi).[2] Lough Scur is deep with generally a soft mud or compact peat bottom, the shallowest portion is the northern reach, between Driny and Drumcong, probably due to the large quantity of detritus carried into it by a mountain stream at Kiltubrid townland. Beyond the roscarbon shoal there is an isolated rock almost level with the summer water surface, nearly circular, measuring c. 10 – c. 15ft across. Lough Marrave might be considered a continuation of Lough Scur, as they share the same level and connected by a half-mile channel.[4]Keshcarrigan lough is connected to Lough scur by a small stream about 250 metres (820.2 ft) in length. Carrickaport Lough drains into Lough Scur by a 450 metres (1,476.4 ft) stream running through Drumcong townland.[5]Drumaleague Lough, lying 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) to the south west, is connected via the Shannon–Erne Waterway. Sub-glacial Rogen moraine landforms are evident in the valley between Slieve Anierin and Lough Scur, caused by ice ageglaciers moving northeast to southwest over millions of years, the Morainic drift heaping up thousands of drumlins in the surrounding lowlands.[6][7]
Ecology
Fish present in Lough Scur include "roach-bream hybrids" (54%), Roach (22%), Perch (9%), Bream (9%, including. Skimmers), Pike (6%), nine-spine stickleback, and Eel.[8][9] The large proportion of hybrids results from the Pike here preferring Roach (86%), Stickleback (9%), and Perch (4%) in their overall diet.[10] The pike population is the "native Irish strain" (Irish: liús meaning 'Irish Pike') not the other European Pike strain (Irish: gailliasc meaning 'strange or foreign fish').[11] Large pike have been caught here weighing 10 kg (22 lb) or more.[12] When surveyed in 2002, no zebra mussels were reported at the highest water level,[13][n 2] and in 2005 the water quality was rated as mesotrophic.[14][n 3]
Demography
Canal
Lough Scur forms part of the Shannon–Erne Waterway, lying at the summit of the canal connecting Lough Scur to the River Shannon, just south of Leitrim village. The original canal was constructed in the 1840s, fell into decline as the rail network prospered, but was reopened in 1994 to develop the region's tourism industry.[16] The levels of Lough Scur are controlled by Waterways Ireland via two Spillways. The recording of large numbers of ancient dug-out canoes from county Leitrim remind us that waterways have always been a key means of transport in Ireland.[17]
Mesolithic hunter-gatherers may have frequented Lough Scur sometime c. 8,000 – c. 4000BC.[18][n 4] Archaeological finds from Lough Scur include five Lithic flakes, a polished shaleaxe, a doleriteaxe roughout, and a piece of leather under a dugout canoe.[18][n 5] The leather and canoe are not dated, but the flakes are probably Mesolithic.[18]
Raftery (1957) claimed small Stone Agecrannogs were observed at Lough Scur. The pre-Bronze Age material were described as flat, circular sites of stones, 6-10m in diameter and 400 cm above the lake mud. The interiors often consisted of brushwood, irregularly sized stones and sometimes horizontal timbers, some charred. Charred animal bones were found on the surface,[19] indicating swine (wild boar, domestic pig) and oxen were part of the diet.[20]
There was a Bronze Agehuman settlement at Lough-Scur c. 4,000 – c. 2,500BC. The "Lough-Scur Stone Mould" is an triangular coarse block of white sandstone found on the Lough-Scur crannog,[21] bearing matrices for casting Copper and Bronze flat axes or spear-heads,[22][23] and containing three moulds, one flat axe and one looped Palstave on obverse, with one flat axe on reverse.[24][25] These were fashioned before the lake dwellers became familiar with the use of Iron sourced from Sliabh an Iarainn for example.[26] The illustration shows the side with moulds for a plain Celt (tool)7.5cm long and for a Celt10cm long with cross strop and ring.[27] The mould is part of the Royal Irish Academy's Collection.
Approximately one cask of bones found on Lough Scur crannog.[31]
Aghascur Druid's Altar
Aghascur, Lough Scur at back.
An ancient stone monument, probably a Druids Altar,[34] is prominently located 400 yards south of the lake in a sloping pasture anciently named Irish: Aghascur, meaning 'field of the Scur'.[3] Set against the spectacular backdrop of Lough Scur and Slieve Anierin, it is marked "Dermot and Grania's Bed" on some maps.[35] Although two erect stones at the south have certainly been artificially set upright, this anomalous monument is extremely doubtful and, on the evidence, cannot be accepted as a megalithic tomb, but rather an attempt to split a rock outcrop from underlying bedrock.[36][n 7] It may have been a Druids altar before Christianity. There is also a Cist located here.
"1346: Four sons of Cathal, son of Mag Raghnaill the Blind-eye, were taken prisoners on Loch-in-sguir by Concobur Mag Raghnaill. And Tomaltach Mag Raghnaill took them with him to Caisel-Coscraigh and they were killed there, the saddest tale that was done in that time.[38]
"1390: Manus O'Rourke, who had been imprisoned by O'Reilly in the castle of Lough Oughter, made his escape from it, and went to the castle of Lough-an Scuir; but the Clann-Murtough, being informed of this by his betrayers, they slew him as he was coming ashore out of a cot.[39]
In the 19th century, a portion of a heavy oak-frame, with mortices and cheeks cut into it, was found on a crannog here.[31][40]
In 1570 Sean Reynolds built a 'Castle' at Gowly townland on a peninsula called Castle Island.[41][n 8] Castle John was three stories high and surrounded by good rock land. Between c. 1570 – c. 1729 Castle Sean was residence to Sean Reynolds (d. 1619), Humphrey his son (d. 1661), Sean his grandson (captured and probably executed during the Irish Rebellion of 1641) and another grandson James (d. 1729), [n 9] who probably abandoned the Castle during his lifetime. Dilapidated ruins of Castle Sean (Irish: Caisleán Seóin) remain today, but are not preserved as national monument, tourist, or heritage site.[43] Some of the building collapsed c. 1908 but was repaired by a heritage preservation society.[44]
Castle Sean c. 1791
Castle & Jail view
Jail Island c. 1791
Prison Island
On 6 April 1605, Sean and his son Humphrey were appointed gaoler of county Leitrim. They constructed a 'prison' on 'Jail island' (Irish: Oileán an phriosuiin) in Lough Scur. The jail cells were small with holes about six inches in diameter for air.[44] Tradition recalls many people being hanged on the island,[45] and that Sean was killed by a soldier from Longford avenging his sister's death there.[45][46] Prison Island was abandoned once Carrick-on-Shannon gaol became established. Dilapidated ruins of the prison remain but are not preserved for heritage.
Metalworking tradition
A tradition of metalworking at Lough Scur is recorded. Five Metalsmiths from "Lougheskure" obtained grants of pardons in the Elizabethan Fiantsc. 1583 – c. 1586AD.[47]
Gilla Gruma O'Flynn.
Charles O'Flynn.
Toole O'Fenane.
Teige oge O'Fonan and Eoin O'Finan, named as Tinker metal workers.
Book of Lough Scur
In the early 20th century, a book or manuscript titled the "Book of Lough Scur", on the Reynolds family, supposedly existed in the library of an unidentified deceased person living near Keshcarrigan, County Leitrim.[48]
"Book of LoughScur - A book or manuscript bearing this title, on the Reynolds family (ancient name MacRannal or Magrannal), County Leitrim, was heard of about three years ago in the neighbourhood of Keshcarrigan, County Leitrim, as having been seen in the library of a gentleman who had died a little while previously; but his name was not ascertained. Materials are being collected for a history of the Reynolds family, and information regarding this book or the loan of it would be much appreciated. [June 1st 1905]".
[text:[49] query from [Henry F. Reynolds, 93, Denbigh Street, S.W.]
"I have never heard of the 'Book of Lough- scur,' but if it be in existence, it will probably be found either in Trinity College or the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin." [21 Oct 1905]
^The Mesolithic period began about 11,660 years BP ending with the introduction of farming.
^The term "roughout" means a work produced in rough or preliminary form.
^The Lough Scur canoe was probably destroyed. Wilde (1861) complained of the poor preservation of dugout boat discoveries, noting many had been broken up for firewood since their recovery.[30]
^ abAghascur ('field of the camp' according to O'Donovan) is marked as Lough Scur ('lake of the camp') on modern maps. It is possible O'Connor of Connacht maintained his regiment at Aghascur ('field of the camp') c. 1265AD to defend the Conmaicne of south Leitrim from Norman conquest.
^The suggestion by Grose Castle Sean was erected by O’Rourke,[42] is unfounded.
^James's son, George Nugent Reynolds Senior, who probably never lived at Castle Sean, was shot and killed by Robert Keon on the morning of October 16, 1786. Keon was tried and executed in 1788 for murder.
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