Lough Corrib (Loch Coirib) is a lake in the west of Ireland. The River Corrib or Galway river connects the lake to the sea at Galway. It is the second largest lough in the island of Ireland (after Lough Neagh). It covers 176 km² and lies mostly in County Galway with a small area of its northeast corner in County Mayo.
The first canal on the island of Ireland was cut in the 12th century. Known as the Friar's Cut, it allowed boats to pass from Lough Corrib to the sea at Galway.
Lough Corrib was designated a Ramsar site on June 16, 1996. It has also been designated a Special Area of Conservation.
Name[]
Loch Coirib is a corruption of Loch nOirbsean, which according to placename lore is named after the Tuatha Dé Danann figure Orbsiu Mac Alloid (commonly called Manannán Mac Lir). In Irish the lough is also called An Choirib ("the Corrib").