Killykeen Forest Park, State forest in Killeshandra, Ireland

Killykeen Forest Park is a state forest spanning around 240 hectares along Lough Oughter, featuring Norway Spruce, Sitka Spruce, Ash, Oak, and Beech trees. The woodland winds around the lake and its islands, creating a varied landscape of open and forested sections.

Killykeen is a state forest managed by Coillte, the commercial forestry service, together with the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Lough Oughter and its associated loughs are protected under the EU Habitats Directive as a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area, notably for wintering birds.

Fishermen gather at Lough Oughter throughout the year to catch pike, bream, and perch in the connected lake system. This fishing tradition remains central to how locals and visitors experience the waterside.

Four marked walking paths range from 500 meters to around 4.6 kilometers, guiding you through different parts of the forest. Parking areas and picnic spots are available to make your visit comfortable.

The overgrown islands around Lough Oughter were in many cases crannógs, artificial or modified lake dwellings. On one of them stands the ruin of Cloughoughter Castle, a 13th-century stronghold; the park also holds Gartnanoul Court Tomb, a Neolithic court tomb.