Waterways

There is no shortage of waterways in Co. Westmeath. It hosts numerous lakes and the county has often been aptly referred to as ‘The Lakeland of Ireland’. The network of waterways in Westmeath also includes the Royal and Grand Canals, the rivers Shannon and Boyne, all supporting biodiversity as well as aspects of socio-economics.

Many of the lakes of Westmeath are Special Protection Areas (SPAs), for example Lough Owel, Lough Ennell, Lough Sheelin, Lough Lene, Lough Kinale, Derragh Lough, Lough Ree and Lough Derravagh.