River Shannon

 

 

RIVER SHANNON

The Shannon, 224 miles, is the longest river in the British Isles.  It rises at a place called Shannon Head in county Cavan at a height of about 300 ft above the sea level.

At about eleven miles from Shannon Head it enters Lough Allen one of its greatest lakes.  At a place known as the central plain, the river widens into Lough Ree, its second lake; this lake is noted for its many little dots of islets.  A little below the lake the river passes Athlone, famous for its military barracks.

After the river passes this town, the scenery is rather dull as the Bog of Allen is close by.  But further on the place is interesting as the river passes Clonmacnoise, the resting place of so many noble Irish men.  The river becomes more and more pleasant as it widens out into the winding lake known as Lough Derg.  It also passes Castle Connel, all in ruins, once the residence of the Kings of Munster.