River Shannon

Source

The River is the longest river in Ireland and the British Isles at 360.5 km. It divides West Ireland from the South and East. There are only less that 20 crossing points of the river. The river is named for Sionna, a Celtic goddess.

The river flows generally southward from the Shannon Pot in County Cavan before turning west and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean through the 113 km long Shannon Estuary. Limerick city stands at the point where the river water meets the sea water of the estuary.

By tradition the Shannon is said to rise in the Shannon Pot, a small pool on the slopes of Cuilcagh Mountain in County Cavan, from where the young river appears as a small trout stream. The river runs through or between 11 of Ireland's counties, including the tributary rivers Inny, Suck and Brosna, before reaching the Shannon Estuary at Limerick. Lakes on the Shannon include Lough Allen, Lough Ree and Lough Derg.

The Shannon river is closely bound up with Ireland's social, cultural, military, economic and political history. As late as 1916, the leaders of the Easter Rising planned to have their forces in the west "hold the line of the Shannon". However, in the event, the rebels were neither well enough armed nor equipped to attempt such an ambitious idea.

Course of River Shannon

Depths: 0.5metres - 18m (upper)

Depths: 1m- 30m

There are many towns on the River Shannon... such as Athlone!