In the year 1210 the Normans built a castle at Athlone, which still stands and during the Napoleonic wars their descendants, fearful of a French invasion on the West Coast, fortified the Shannon crossings and some of these constructions still exist. Today the only gunfire is that of hunters and the only foreign invaders hire sleek modern cabin cruisers to explore the ancient waterway, to enjoy its unique peacefulness and to relax in the many hostelries along its banks. Nature has endowed the river with many treasures. Everywhere there is first class fishing . Salmon may be caught in Lough Derg, while all along the river, trout, pike, bream, roach, rudd and tench abound.
Bird life is abundant with over one hundred and twenty native or visiting species.
Swans, teal, mallard, waterhens, curlews and snipe are just a few of the varieties, to be seen, while the callows immediately south of Athlone are one of the last remaining habitats of the corncracke in Western Europe. Plant life is prolific with scores of aquatic and riparian plants. The range of animal life is endless, deer, squirrels, badger, weasels, mink, bats, pine martin, hedgehogs, and on and on and on. Pollution is almost non existent and it is possible to drink the water on Lough Ree. Apart from one or two turf stations there is little or no heavy industry along its banks.