The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-09-18
SHANNON RIVER Is
TO BE HARNESSED
PICTURESQUE AND ROMANTIC
STREAM WILL TURN THE
WHEELS OF INDUSTRY
Shannon River is Longest in the Irish
Free State Measuring 24O Miles
With a Width Of Eight Miles at
Its Mouth.

Its Mouth.
'sThe Shannon river which so
long has figured in the of
the imaginative Irish, will soon be
concerted 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 tt a bulletin from the Washing
ton, d. c., headquarters of the Ma
tional Geographic society.
Dainty Shamrock blooms and
other flowers nod their pretty heads
by the side Of it's 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.
Realistically 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 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 n~avigable 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
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 w%harves,
but a turn in the tide of affairs Of
the island caused the city to wither
away, and now few boats except *
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
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 it's
source the Grand and Royal canals
with Dublin, the Ulster canal
with Belfast. Its volume is obtained
from a catchment basin of 1914
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
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,
filter for a more peaceful life
than history has hitherto accorded it.
The Danes pushed their boats up to
he head of navigation at Limerick
the ninth century and managed to
throw a bridge across the river. This
was almost the only way Of getting
across 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
Iormans 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 !
that did not know bloody
truggles along the peaceful river.
Edward Bruce captured the Norman
'astle in 1916, and Hugh O'Neill I,
le1d it for six months against one of
he greatest of Cromwell's generals.
The venerable old castle with its t
.reat drumm-like towers and walls :
o feet thick, stands by the riverside :
oday. I
'The portion Of the river just
bove Limerick is known as the most V
eautiful, and has been dubbed by t
Apply fishermen the Ethiopia of Irish t
nglers.' It's salmon and trout fish
1g r famous enough to make de- c