The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-09-18

HIS hlOuIns
'The Shannon river" which so
long has figured in the romances of
the imaginative Irish, will oon be
connected with an industrial ro-
nance of hat 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, d. O., headquarters of the Ma
tional Geographic society.
Dainty Shamrock blooms and
other flowers nod their pretty heads
by the side of its foaming weirS and
it's bawling rapids" says the report
of the society. "They give a colorful
background to stories concerning the
fairies who still play pranks upon
the inhabitants in it's vicinity, the
miraculous courses of the numerous
holy wells, and the potency of the
wishing wells near it's banks.
Largest In Irish Free State.
"Statistically speaking, the Shan
non is the largest and longest river
in the new Irish Free State, measur-
ing $40 miles in length and is eight
miles wide at its mouth. During it's
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 SO miles, or up to it's
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
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
lexis waterfront.
"Down through Tough Allen, near
the northwestern coast of Ireland
out into the central portion of the
country and back again to the south
west, the river flows, measuring off
portion of land very similar in
shape to Wales, about the same size !
and in corresponding location with
reference to Ireland that Wales bears
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
connect with Dublin, the Ulster canal
Belfast. Its volume is obtained
a catchment basin of 4,544
square miles.
Divides Island Historically.
Historically speaking, it has for a
thousand or more years been the di-
line between eastern Ireland,
was overrun at various times
by the Danes and the English, and
western Ireland, which is Irish
and through, and where
Gaelic is still the language of the
"But the beautiful, fertile valley,
with it's green, calm, lush meadows,
seems filter for a more peaceful life
han history has hitherto accorded it.
The 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
the river barrier with the ex-
of the ford at Athlone, just
below Tough Rec.
Brian Boru led his forces against
he Danes and drove them out after
struggle which Economically colors
he pages of Irish history, but the
Jormans came just a little while lat
II, took Limerick and erected a great
'ound-towered castle from which
hey might clinch their hold upon
he country. Scarcely a century :
'assed that did not know bloody
truggles along the peaceful river. 5
Bruce captured the Norman
astle in 1916, and Hugh O'Neill =,
leld it for six months against n of
he greatest of Cromwell's generals.
The venerable old castle with it's t
reat drumm-like towers and walls Z
0 feet thick, stands by the riverside :
oday. I
'The portion of the river just
bove Limerick is known as the most Y
eautiful, and has been dubbed by !
Apply fishermen the Ethiopia of Irish
nglers.' It's salmon and trout fish I
, ~ ORC foroO11c onounh m mo1zo do r