Reasons to holiday at home

IRELAND has more than 6,000 lakes and, according to author John Dunne, we don’t appreciate them. They are, he thinks, a neglected part of our heritage.

In Lakeshore Loops, Exploring Ireland’s Lakes, Dunne describes the 28 water bodies which have surface areas exceeding 7.5 km² and gives an account of their history and folklore. His focus is an unusual one: that of the cycling tourist. It’s a timely offering. As the recession deepens, more of us will holiday at home and bicycles may stage a comeback. This should help to reduce those carbon emissions — every cloud has a silver lining.

From a cycling perspective, Lough Neagh, which is west of Belfast, is the most accessible of our lakes. Its 206km circuit is well sign-posted and the tourist infrastructure is good. Nor can many lakes compare with Neagh for folklore and myths. Its waters are the urine of a magical horse on which a legendary figure, Eochaidh, abducted his father’s wife. But that can’t be true; every schoolchild knows that Fionn Mac Cumhaill created the lake when he seized a great lump of earth to hurl at a Scottish giant. The Isle of Man is all that remains of the missile.