The River ShannonThe River Shannon

Ireland’s longest river:Ireland’s longest river:386 km or 240 miles long.386 km or 240 miles long.

Did you know how the river got Did you know how the river got its name?its name?

The Shannon is named after Sionnan, who was the The Shannon is named after Sionnan, who was the granddaughter of granddaughter of Manannan Mac LirManannan Mac Lir, or God of the , or God of the Sea. Sea.

She came to this spot [the Shannon pot, where the She came to this spot [the Shannon pot, where the river begins in the Cuilcagh Mountains, Co Cavan] river begins in the Cuilcagh Mountains, Co Cavan] to eat the fruit of the forbidden, or the Tree of to eat the fruit of the forbidden, or the Tree of Knowledge, which was planted by the Druids. Knowledge, which was planted by the Druids.

As she began to eat it, the waters of the pool As she began to eat it, the waters of the pool sprang up and overwhelmed her, drawing her sprang up and overwhelmed her, drawing her down into it to flow out later across the land, thus down into it to flow out later across the land, thus the River Shannon sprung up.the River Shannon sprung up.

Course of the River Course of the River ShannonShannon

The Shannon’s The Shannon’s source is in the source is in the Cuilcagh Mountains, Cuilcagh Mountains, in Co Cavan.in Co Cavan.

It is a small lake It is a small lake called the Shannon called the Shannon Pot, which is 14.6m Pot, which is 14.6m deep at its deepest deep at its deepest point.point.

Counties that the Shannon Counties that the Shannon runs throughruns through

Cavan Cavan Fermanagh Fermanagh Leitrim Leitrim Longford Longford Roscommon Roscommon Offaly Offaly Tipperary Tipperary Clare Clare Limerick Limerick Galway Galway Kerry : it touches off the coast of Kerry when it flows into Kerry : it touches off the coast of Kerry when it flows into

the sea.the sea. Westmeath Westmeath

Tributaries of the River Tributaries of the River ShannonShannon

A tributary is a stream or a river that flows A tributary is a stream or a river that flows into another river. into another river.

The River Shannon has many tributaries. The River Shannon has many tributaries. Can you find these on the map?Can you find these on the map?

The River SuckThe River Suck The Inny RiverThe Inny River The River BrosnaThe River Brosna The Nenagh RiverThe Nenagh River The Mulcair RiverThe Mulcair River

Rivers of Rivers of Ireland: Ireland:

Can you see Can you see the the Shannon?Shannon?

Lakes on the River ShannonLakes on the River Shannon

There are three main lakes on the There are three main lakes on the River Shannon. Find these on your River Shannon. Find these on your map:map: Lough AllenLough Allen Lough ReeLough Ree Lough DergLough Derg

Map of the Map of the towns and towns and villages on villages on

the Shannon the Shannon Erne Erne

WaterwayWaterway

The Shannon-Erne Waterway:The Shannon-Erne Waterway: How do we link up with the How do we link up with the

River Shannon?River Shannon? The Shannon-Erne Waterway is a The Shannon-Erne Waterway is a canalcanal linking the linking the

River ShannonRiver Shannon in the in the Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland with the with the River ErneRiver Erne in in Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland..

It is managed by It is managed by Waterways IrelandWaterways Ireland.. The canal is 63 km (39 mi) in length, has sixteen locks The canal is 63 km (39 mi) in length, has sixteen locks

and runs from and runs from LeitrimLeitrim village village in in County County LeitrimLeitrim to Upper to Upper

LoughLough Erne Erne in in County County FermanaghFermanagh.. If we wanted to hire a boat on the Shannon-Erne waterway, If we wanted to hire a boat on the Shannon-Erne waterway,

what town would we go to ? [Hint: It is not too far from what town would we go to ? [Hint: It is not too far from Ballyshannon…]Ballyshannon…]

[L E L E K B] [L E L E K B] http://www.waterwaysireland.org/erne/http://www.waterwaysireland.org/erne/ Let’s examine a map of the Let’s examine a map of the

Shannon Erne waterway.Shannon Erne waterway.

How is the Shannon connected How is the Shannon connected with Dublin?with Dublin?

The Shannon River The Shannon River is connected with is connected with Dublin through two Dublin through two canals, the Royal canals, the Royal Canal and the Canal and the Grand Canal.Grand Canal.

Statue of the Irish poet, Statue of the Irish poet, Patrick Kavanagh, on the Patrick Kavanagh, on the banks of the Grand Canal, banks of the Grand Canal, Dublin.Dublin.

Where does the Shannon enter Where does the Shannon enter the sea?the sea?

The Shannon River flows into The Shannon River flows into the Atlantic Ocean at its the Atlantic Ocean at its mouth, the Shannon Estuary.mouth, the Shannon Estuary.

The estuary has The estuary has LimerickLimerick at at its head and its seaward limits its head and its seaward limits are marked by are marked by Loop HeadLoop Head to to the north and the north and Kerry HeadKerry Head to to the south.the south.

The estuary defines the main The estuary defines the main

boundary between boundary between County KerryCounty Kerry//County LimerickCounty Limerick to the south and County Clare to the south and County Clare to the north.to the north.

Map of the Shannon EstuaryMap of the Shannon Estuary

Town ChallengeTown Challenge In your Geography copy, In your Geography copy,

and using your atlas/map and using your atlas/map of Ireland, list five towns of Ireland, list five towns that the Shannon River that the Shannon River flows through.flows through.

Hint: Check these websites Hint: Check these websites for some help:for some help:

http://www.iwai.ie/maps/shhttp://www.iwai.ie/maps/shannonerne/index.htmlannonerne/index.html

http://www.cruiseireland.cohttp://www.cruiseireland.com/ireland/images/map.jpgm/ireland/images/map.jpg

WeblinksWeblinks

http://www.discoverloughderg.ie/http://www.discoverloughderg.ie/Introduction/RiverShannon/Introduction/RiverShannon/RiverShannonTributaries/ : find out RiverShannonTributaries/ : find out more about Lough Derg.more about Lough Derg.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lough_ree: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lough_ree: Find out more about Lough ReeFind out more about Lough Ree

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lough_allen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lough_allen: Find out more about Lough AllenFind out more about Lough Allen