This lake is between Manorhamilton and Kinlough in one of the most beautiful valleys of glacial origin in all Europe.
It's also known with the name of "The Jealous Valley". According to the legend, Parthalon and his wife Dealghait were the first man and woman to reach Ireland after the Great Flood. When they arrived here, they started arguing whether the place was beautiful or not, because one of them two loved it, the other one hated it.
Above all, the lake is linked to the legend of the Dobhar Chú, a water hound that, according to the legend, lived in the lake. The Dobhar Chú is described as a creature that might resemble a big otter, or half a dog and half a otter or a fish.
On September 24th, 1722, a young woman, Grainne Ní Conalai, was at the lake to wash some clothes when this monster jumped out of the lake and killed her. Her husband Traolach Mac Lochlainn heard her screams and ran to her aid, but when he arrived he saw the monster lying asleep on the woman's torn and mauled body. At this terrible sight the man confronted and killed the beast with a dagger in its heart. While it was dying, the monster made a loud haunting and high-pitched sound that woke up the monster's companion which was in the lake. This second monster chased Traolach Mac Lochlainn who, along with his brother, lured the monster 30 kilometres away up to Cashelgarron where they slew it.
In the Conwal cemetery there's the grave of Grainne Ní Conalai with the effigy of a creature stabbed by a dagger.
What is quite weird is that the shape of this lake resembles an otter!
The other similar case is Lough Derravaragh. This lough, linked to the legend of the Children of Lir, is shaped like a swan in flight.
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