h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Lough Ine, West Cork, Ireland - A1310699
Author: Metal Chicken - U97477

Here's a piece about one of my favourite places in the world.
Trouble is distilling the interesting and evocative bits from the childhood nostalgia, more recent memories and scientific facts.
Have I got the balance right or would people prefer to see more included from any particular angle?

MC

The name of the king with the ass's ears was Labhraí (pronounced Lowrey). It's a very well-known story in Ireland. Strangely, it comes from Greece, where in the original story, it was King Midas who had the ears of an ass, the same guy as could turn things to gold.

Hi Metal Chicken,

This is incredible - I have been working on an entry on Baltimore, so the timing of this is uncanny! (I'm a bit stuck mind you , because I really need to get down there over the next few weeks to get more information on pubs, restaurants and sights in order to finalise research on my article). As part I my article I was going to write a few lines on Lough Hyne / Lough Ine, so your contribution is spot on!

Anyhoo, your article looks really good, and you are right - this lake is one of the most amazing places in Ireland. I think that a greater list of the marine fauna would be very useful - some books I have read recently talk about trigger fish living there, but I don't know whether this is true or not. I know that there are many very unusual species of mussel, crinoid, starfish, sea urchins and oysters in those waters. Whether you wish to explain more is up to you of course.

Also, the lake is a geological mystery, by all accounts. Nobody knows quite how such a large, deep hole could have been created in a solid mass of Old Red Sandstone. Theories such as glaciation, subsidence and the action of water do not appear to solve the mystery.

Also, the channel is also known as The Rapids in many books.

Great article

Woodpigeon

Thanks for the comments guys

I didn't know the king with ass's ears stories was an import from Greece. I was steering clear of the king's name as I wasn't sure of the spelling or pronunciation (it sounded like Larry Lynchie when I heard the story recently). Maybe I could include his first name at least - thanks for the info Gnomon.
I'm happy to include a bit more detail on the marine fauna. Will try and get this done tomorrow. It's one of those places where there's so much you could say, it's hard to know what to put in, if you know what I mean...

MC

Nice entry MC! It might be nice to have a pronounciation guide to 'Lough Ine'.

At the moment I've got it down as being much like they way 'isn't he' is said in Estuary English...

I think Ine rhymes Wine .

The king's full name was Labhraí Loinsigh which would be pronounced Lowrey Lynchie!

So I wasn't as far off with that as I thought I was! Thanks Gnomon
And yes, Ine rhymes with wine.

Right then, I've made a few changes as suggested.
Any other thoughts?

Hello Metal Chicken

This is a lovely bit of writing

Could do with a subheading or 2 to frame the text. But that's maybe just a personal preference, so feel free to ignore.

I'm a bit confused about that statement. What about the sea lochs around Scotland - and Loch Stenness in Orkney has salt water in it? Could you define what you mean a bit more clearly, or state your source, so that you don't get the blame?


F/b

Both the Big Lake on Inisheer, Galway, and Lady's Island Lake, Wexford, are salt water lakes.

Hi Metal Chicken,

As well as the yew, you might also mention that stalwart of West Cork, the fuschia, grows in abundance in this area. It may also be worth mentioning that parking can be a problem, but there is a small visitor's car park there; and that the lake is a few miles off the Baltimore to Skibbereen road.

On an unrelated point though - if anybody has the chance to get to West Cork, this lake is a must-see! It is really, really beautiful down there.

Woodpigeon

The fuschias are a good idea, hedgerows full of flowers buzzing with bees in the late summer May not be a native plant but it's very well established all around West Cork now.

I've removed the "only sea lake" claim. It came from an over-enthusiastic local walking guide and when I think about it is obviously wrong. But I'll go back to my source too and check if I misunderstood the claim.

Lovely description of the place

Good enough to get me wondering about the ancillary details - would you be able to include a bit on how you get there (is public transport possible?) and is there anywhere to get fed and watered while you're exploring it?

Cheers,
Number Six

This is a great entry, Metal Chicken--it's very readable, and gives a real flavour of the area. And if they get picked soon, it ought to be possible to cross-link to the Baltimore entry.

Azara

Right then, I've updated the entry slightly to include a mention of the fuschia hedges and a paragraph on practicalities. to Number Six for that suggestion.
I think it's finished now, unless anybody has any more suggestions...

I'd hope to see this and the Baltimore entry cross-linked. Both are also crying out for a Skibbereen entry but I'm not volunteering for that one just now.

Hi MC

It looks great


F/b

I love an entry that causes me to sit back from my desk, close my eyes and just imagine the place.

Very well done bit of writing this. And an interesting topic as well.


- Jimi X

Dear Metal Chicken,

Yours and Woodpigeon's recent Baltimore entry are both are great credit to the Edited Guide - as JimiX points out, very evocative and very nicely written up. Great stuff indeed. Now, my highly keened sixth sense reckons on this entry being picked verrrrry soon.