Inniscarra Lake, body of water
Inniscarra Lake is a reservoir along the River Lee in County Cork that was created when a dam was built in 1956. The body of water covers about 530 hectares with roughly 40 kilometers of shoreline and holds a variety of fish species including carp, pike, and bream.
The dam was built starting in 1953 and its floodgates were closed in 1956, causing the water to fill and form the reservoir completely by 1957. This project was part of a larger hydroelectric scheme by the Electricity Supply Board to provide power to Cork and surrounding communities.
The name Inniscarra comes from Irish and refers to an island in the original river course. Today the water is used by anglers, rowers, and walkers who enjoy moving along the shoreline and appreciate the quiet of the area.
The water is accessible for leisure activities like fishing, rowing, and walking, though not all shoreline sections are equally suitable. The area features marked paths and popular access points such as Carrigadrohid Castle Bridge, Farran Forest Park, and several docks for small boats.
European youth rowing championships took place here in 1999, 2008, and 2018, making the lake a notable center for rowing competitions. A local fishery worker named Noel Hackett introduced bream to the water in 1973, which led to a large population of this fish that now defines much of the fishing there.
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