We talk of heritage and of our beauty spots and areas of special attractions, and often leave out one of the most remarkable and inviting parts of our country - the midland lakes. You can name them in your own order. Owel, Ennel, Derravaragh would be the first three, and then you can extend, according to preference, to Sheelin, Glor, the White bake or even go down as far as Tullamore for Pallas. And all that is only to give the heartland. These wonderful waterlands are brought to mind just now written by John McKenna under the title "Mouthwatering Midlands", for he is singing the praises of three excellent establishments in Westmeath: Morning ton Crookedwood House and Temple.
While food and services are his main themes, the article happens to carry two strikingly beautiful photographs attributed to Mike O'Toole. One shows the water of Derravaragh from reed's eye level, so to speak, all oat coloured and blue. The other is a panorama of sweeping fields and dappled hills overlooking the same. Each is spread across the lower half of two facing pages.
These lakes are not just for anglers or fowlers; they are simply lovely places to be, and well within striking distance not only from the capital, but from many towns south, west and north. You will remember the story told of Owel by Lloyd Braeger, where an outboard engine, lost overboard one night is seen the next morning, quite clearly, in fifty one feet of water. Owel is a spring fed lake.
Why is a house on Ennel - or it used to be there, hope it still is - called Lilliput? How treacherous that boomerang shaped Derravaragh can be when a certain wind gets up. What a mysterious place the White Lake used to be of a late summer evening, the white marl of one side slowly darkening as thousands of crayfish crept out in search of prey. And Pallas is remembered by a group of fishermen friends as the place where C.J. Haughey first encountered, successfully, a trout.
Sheelin is a law unto itself, with, often big catches early on. And it's not far from Ramor. What a lot of work has gone into all these waters by, originally, the Inland Fisheries Trust and now by the Central and Regional Boards. Much devoted service.
But at this time of year you can have just a lovely outing and picnic around any of them, with your portable gas gadget or thermos flask. Only the experienced are allowed a little fire well kept in check with big stones. A night on any of these waters is a world of its own.