The Carbon County chronicle. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1924, 1924-09-17

1.-THE shannon river" which so
long has figured in the romances of
the Imaginative Irish, win soon be
connected with an industrial ro-
nance of that country, If the great
engineering project for Harvesting
it's 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
tionaI Geographic society.
Dainty Shamrock blooms and
other flowers nod their pretty heads
by the side of It's foaming weirs and
its bawling rapids" says the report
of the society. They give colorful
background to stories concerning the
fairies who still play pranks 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 In 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 its mouth. During its
course 1t drops $50 feet from the
foot of the Cuilcagh mountains,
where 1t rises, to the seattle last
feature being the source of its power
to turn the wheels of industry.
From Loop Head and Kerry Head
the twin capes at its entrance to the
sea, 1t is nayigable for all classes OF
ships for SO miles, or up to its
junction with the Fergus river and a
considerable world navy might be
hidden In its 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 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
a portion OF land very similar in
shape to Wales, about the same size
and In corresponding location with
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 its
source the Grand and Royal canals
connect with Dublin, the Ulster canal
with Belfast. It's volume is obtained
from catchment basin OF 1914
square miles.
Divides Island Historically.
Historically speaking, 1t has for a
thousand or more years been the d.
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 its green, calm, lush meadows,
seems filter for a more peaceful life
than history has hitherto accorded 1t.
The Danes pushed their boats up to
the head Of navigation at Limerick
in the ninth century and managed to
throw bridge across the river. This
was almost the only way of getting
across the river barrier with the ex-
ception of the ford at Athlone, just
below Tough Rec
Brian Boru led his forces against
the Danes and drove them out after
a struggle which Economically colors
the pages of Irish history, but the
N0rmans came just little while lat
err, took Limerick and erected a great
round-towered castle from which
they might clinch their hold upon
the country. Scarcely century
passed that did not know bloody
struggles along the peaceful river.
Edward Bruce captured the Norman
castle in 1916, and Hugh O'Neill
held 1t for six months against one OF
the greatest of Cromwell's generals.
The venerable old castle with its
great drumm-like towers and walls
10 feet thick, stands by the riverside
today
THE portion of the river Just
above Limerick Is known as the most
beautiful, and has been dubbed by
happy fishermen the utopia of Irish
anglers Its salmon and trout fish
ing are famous enough to make de-
votes caress their rods, poles and
flies In retrospect, over the hours
they spent at Carrick-on-the-Sha
non. Athlone, Kallaloe or Castle
connel"