The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-09-19

'sThe shannon river" which so
long has figured in the rOmances of
the Imaginative Irish, will soon be
connected with an industrial ro-
nance of that country, If the great
engineering project for Harvesting
its waters, reported to be in pro-
gress, is put into operation, accord
ing to a bulletin from the Washing
ton, ID. c., headquarters OF the Ma
Hona1 Geographic society.
DAINTY Shamrock blooms and
other flowers nod their pretty heads
by the side Of its foaming weirs and
its bawling rapids" says the report
of the society. 'They give a colorful
background to stories concerning the
fairies who still play FRANKS upon
the inhabitants in its vicinity, the
miraculous courses of the numerous
holy wells, and the potency Of the
wishing wells near its banks.
Largest I'm Irish Free State.
"Statistically speaking, the Shan
non is the largest and longest river
in the new Irish Free State, measur-
ing 240 miles in length and is eight
miles wide at it's mouth. During its
course it drops $50 feet from the
foot of the Cuilcagh mountains,
where it rises, to the seattle last
feature being the source of it's power
to turn the wheels of industry.
From Loop Head and Kerry Head,
the twin capes at it's entrance to the
sea, it is navigable for all classes of
ships for 36 miles, or up to its
junction with the Fergus river and a
considerable world navy might be
hidden in it's estuary, which in some
places widens out to 10 miles. Once,
many years ago, the town of LINER
lex, at the head of navigation on the
Shannon, had fond aspirations of be-
ing the greatest port in Ireland be-
cause ships from America could sail
up the river and dock at her wharves,
but a turn in the tide of affairs of
the island caused the city to wither
away, and now few boats except ex-
cursion steamers and pleasure craft
drop their gang planks along LINER
ick's waterfront.
down through Tough Allen, near
the northwestern coast of Ireland
out into the central portion of the
west, the river flows, measuring off |
a portion of land very similar in
shape to Wales, about the same size |
and in corresponding location with i
reference to Ireland that Wales bears |
to England. 1t has been canalized |
and made navigable for small YES |
sells as far as Tough Allen; near it's
source the Grand and Royal canals
81 !
with Belfast. Its volume is obtained
from a catchment basin of 4,544
square miles.
Divides Island Historically.
Historically speaking, it has for
thousand or more years been the di-
viding line between eastern Ireland,
which was overrun at various times
by the Danes and the English, and
western Ireland, which is Irish
through and through, and where
Gaelic is still the language of the
people.
"But the beautiful, fertile valley,
with it's green, calm, lush meadows,
seems filter for more peaceful life
han history has hitherto accorded it.
rhe Danes pushed their boats up to
he head of navigation at Limerick
n the ninth century and managed to
brow a bridge across the river. This
vas almost the only way of getting
lcross the river barrier with the ex- {
eption of the ford at Athlone, just |
)elow Tough Rec.
brian Boru led his forces against
he Danes and drove them out after y
struggle which Economically colors t
he pages of Irish history, but the
Jormans came just a little while lat
r, took Limerick and erected great $
castle from which S
hey might clinch their hold upon 7
he country. Scarcely a century !
assed that did not know bloody
truggles along the peaceful river. 8
EDWARD Bruce captured the Norman /
astle in 1916, and Hugh O'Neil1 V
ED it for six months against one of
he greatest of Cromwells generals.
he venerable old castle with it's t
reat drumm-like towers and walls A
0 feet thick, stands by the riverside !
oday.
"The portion of the river just
bove Limerick is known as the most V
eautiful, and has been dubbed by f
Apply fishermen the Ethiopia of Irish t
nglers.' It's salmon and trout fish n
lg are famous enough to make de- c