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Lough Dubh, Roscommon
Sun, 11/04/2010 - 12:07
Lake Monster. In 1962 a creature was hooked by a man and his son whilst out fishing. Described as having "short thick legs with small ears and a white pointed horn on the snout. It was dark grey in colour, and covered with bristles or short hair, like a pig." It was said to be the size of a cow and aggressive.
Other sightings have may have been made in 1956 and 1960
So where exactly is Lough Dubh (also known as Black’s Lake (Dubh is Gaelic for black))? I have come across references to it being on the River Suck between Roscommon and Galway. However, I have come across references to a Lough Dubh or Lough Reenan (Greenan?) in Donegal. Has anyone any ideas?
I have also come across a reference saying the father in the account was a teacher.
The original source is Peter Costello In Search of Lake Monsters, 1974 edition.
Lough Dubh is also known as Black's Lake (rather obviously...) and is indeed in the River Suck Valley, Co Roscommon. It's a small lake (15 acres) near the village of Creggs and is popular with local anglers, being well stocked with roach and pike.
As for the creature itself it hasn't been reported since 1961 when it was seen together with two smaller ones.
According to Costello the man who hooked the creature was a schoolmaster named Mullaney.
"Louhi spoke in riddled tones of three things to achieve: find and catch the Devil's Moose and bring it here to me. Seize the Stallion born of Fire, harness the Golden Horse. He captured and bound the Moose, he tamed the Golden Horse. Still there remained one final task: hunt for the Bird from the Stream of Death"
-Kalevala, Rune XIII-
Thanks Mauro, I'll see about uploading this to the gazatteer.