October 18th 2005Limerick

City Library

Story of the Shannon Estuary

Map showing Adare

Cruising down the River

The Shannon Estuary in the 19th Century

Cruising down the River

The Shannon Estuary in the 19th Century• Transport

Cruising down the River

The Shannon Estuary in the 19th Century• Transport• Tragedy

Cruising down the River

The Shannon Estuary in the 19th Century• Transport• Tragedy• Transformation

Shannon Folklore

Shannon Folklore

• Name from Sinnan daughter of Lear

Shannon Folklore

• Name from Sinnan daughter of Lear• Lear was Sea King of Tuaithe de Danann

Shannon Folklore

• Name from Sinnan daughter of Lear• Lear was Sea King of Tuaithe de Danann• Sinnan drowned searching for salmon of

knowledge

Shannon Folklore

• Name from Sinnan daughter of Lear• Lear was Sea King of Tuaithe de Danann• Sinnan drowned searching for salmon of

knowledge• Cata the monster

Shannon Folklore

• Name from Sinnan daughter of Lear• Lear was Sea King of Tuaithe de Danann• Sinnan drowned searching for salmon of

knowledge• Cata the monster• John Paul Jones

Shannon Folklore

• Name from Sinnan daughter of Lear• Lear was Sea King of Tuaithe de Danann• Sinnan drowned searching for salmon of

knowledge• Cata the monster• John Paul Jones

Shannon in History

Shannon in History

• Ptolemy mapped river Senus in 1st century

Shannon in History

• Ptolemy mapped river Senus in 1st century• Luimneach applied to whole Estuary

Shannon in History

• Ptolemy mapped river Senus in 1st century• Luimneach applied to whole Estuary• Vikings settled in city in 9th century

Shannon in History

• Ptolemy mapped river Senus in 1st century• Luimneach applied to whole Estuary• Vikings settled in city in 9th century• Thereafter Limerick synonomous with city

Shannon in History

• Ptolemy mapped river Senus in 1st century• Luimneach applied to whole Estuary• Vikings settled in city in 9th century• Thereafter Limerick synonomous with city• Limerick Mayor had authority over Estuary

Shannon in History

• Ptolemy mapped river Senus in 1st century• Luimneach applied to whole Estuary• Vikings settled in city in 9th century• Thereafter Limerick synonomous with city• Limerick Mayor had authority over Estuary• Confirmed by Royal charter in 1609

Shannon in History

• Ptolemy mapped river Senus in 1st century• Luimneach applied to whole Estuary• Vikings settled in city in 9th century• Thereafter Limerick synonomous with city• Limerick Mayor had authority over Estuary• Confirmed by Royal charter in 1609• Mayor known as Admiral of the Shannon

Military Defences

Military Defences

• Estuary gave access to heartland of country

Military Defences

• Estuary gave access to heartland of country• Defensive forts at Tarbert Scattery etc

Military Defences

• Estuary gave access to heartland of country• Defensive forts at Tarbert Scattery etc• Napoleon aware of placenames on estuary

Military Defences

• Estuary gave access to heartland of country• Defensive forts at Tarbert Scattery etc• Napoleon aware of placenames on estuary• Military meant increased trade for locals

Military Defences

• Estuary gave access to heartland of country• Defensive forts at Tarbert Scattery etc• Napoleon aware of placenames on estuary• Military meant increased trade for locals• Dover passes Stromboli lashes

Pirates and Smugglers

Pirates and Smugglers

• 1505 – tri-oared armed galley with 150 men

Pirates and Smugglers

• 1505 – tri-oared armed galley with 150 men• Privateers attacked merchant ships

Pirates and Smugglers

• 1505 – tri-oared armed galley with 150 men• Privateers attacked merchant ships• Wreckers on land using lanterns

Pirates and Smugglers

• 1505 – tri-oared armed galley with 150 men• Privateers attacked merchant ships• Wreckers on land using lanterns• Attacks at small ports from land

Pirates and Smugglers

• 1505 – tri-oared armed galley with 150 men• Privateers attacked merchant ships• Wreckers on land using lanterns• Attacks at small ports from land• Tobacco smuggling mainly west of estuary

Pirates and Smugglers

• 1505 – tri-oared armed galley with 150 men• Privateers attacked merchant ships• Wreckers on land using lanterns• Attacks at small ports from land• Tobacco smuggling mainly west of estuary • Revenue Police patrol for this & illicit stills

Development of River Transport

Development of River Transport

• Today car ferry and large ships main traffic

Development of River Transport

• Today car ferry and large ships main traffic• Early 19th century turf boats and military

Development of River Transport

• Today car ferry and large ships main traffic• Early 19th century turf boats and military• Paterson saw potential in Kilkee

Development of River Transport

• Today car ferry and large ships main traffic• Early 19th century turf boats and military• Paterson saw potential in Kilkee• 1812 – 2 boats plying from Kilrush

Development of River Transport

• Today car ferry and large ships main traffic• Early 19th century turf boats and military• Paterson saw potential in Kilkee• 1812 – 2 boats plying from Kilrush• 1817 – Lady of the Shannon (Steamer)

Development of River Transport

• Today car ferry and large ships main traffic• Early 19th century turf boats and military• Paterson saw potential in Kilkee• 1812 – 2 boats plying from Kilrush• 1817 – Lady of the Shannon (Steamer)• Paddle steamers Garryowen Erin go Brath

Development of River Transport

• Today car ferry and large ships main traffic• Early 19th century turf boats and military• Paterson saw potential in Kilkee• 1812 – 2 boats plying from Kilrush• 1817 – Lady of the Shannon (Steamer)• Paddle steamers Garryowen Erin go Brath• Problems with tides and wind

Emigration

• Agents in most towns for Liners• Back load from US and Canada• Emigrants outward and food inward–famine• Emigrants rowed out to join ships in estuary• Coffin ship stories exaggerated

Commercial Fishing

• Salmon weirs & oyster beds on both shores• Landlords controlled the fishing rights• Scotsmen brought in for salmon fishing• Dispute in 1867 fishermen v Knight• Ice houses built for storing fish• Sent to Billingsgate market in London• Spin off industry – nailors coopers etc

Decline of River Transport

• Competition - lower prices & standards• Improved and new roads• Bianconi coaches• Foynes Railway opened in 1858• West Clare rail access to Kilkee• Goods inward meant less need to travel

Perils on the Shannon

• Wind and swelling Tides• Currents – Tarbert Races• Rocks and dumped ballast• Barriers at low tide• Poor boats and inexperienced boatmen• Collisions between craft

Pilots

• 1823 – pilots licensed by Bridge Comms• Family tradition – father to son – part time• Based at Carrigaholt, Kilbaha & Scattery• Windsor Castle salvaged by pilots 1830s• Lighters at Beigh Castle• Dispute between Limerick and Clare pilots

Safety on Shannon

• Code on river to avoid collisions• To Limerick via Kerry and Limerick shore• From Limerick via Clare coast.• Pollution & Fire Plan uses same code• Collisions – steamy windows• Sugar Boat – not wreckers!!!

Accidents

• 1836 Intrinsic sank at Kilkee-all aboard lost• 1836 11 Kildysart people drowned at Beigh• 1840 4 more Kildysart men drowned • 1847 “Paupers coming from Kilrush”• 1850 Edmond sank at Kilkee- 98 lives lost

Shannon Commissioners

• Set up to develop whole Shannon• Built piers along Estuary at Foynes etc• English contractors brought in• Workers lodged in Glin as Foynes not built• Glin lost out Monteagle got pier for

Kilteery• Cited as reason for famine boating tragedy

Glin Drowning Tragedy

• Sunday November 21st “Mermaid” sank• 11 people drowned near the shore• Cargo of butter and corn• Peg Devine Knight’s mistress drowned• Knight met her at Galway regatta• All drowned from Glin except two

Tarbert Drowning Tragedy

• August 15th 1893 17 people crossed to Clare• Only one old boat which got into trouble• On way back boat drifted towards Beale• Two palatines named Bovenizer drowned• Boatman and his son included in dead• One girl missed boat as she had breakfast

Coleen Bán

• June 1819 Ellen Hanley eloped from Croom• Sham marriage to Scanlan in Limerick• Went to Glin by boat• Matthew Scanlan lived at Hiphall House• Ellen murdered by Sullivan at 2nd attempt• Scanlan tried November and hung on March 1820• Sullivan was captured in Tralee & hung July 1820• Gerald Griffin & Scanlan neighbours in Loughill

Coleen Bán Mysteries

• Parson Dicks account is fanciful• Book written in 1860s when in debt• No evidence to back his account• Shanagolden connection ???????????• Initial reluctance to pursue Scanlan• Subject not discussed in Glin area even now• Play on saga broken up by riots in 1930s

Changes on Estuary

• 2 power stations Moneypoint & Tarbert• Foynes Harbour development• Alcan & Shannon Airport• Decline of Limerick Docks• Cargoes differ – mainly tankers• Regattas and pleasure craft seldom seen

Discussion

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END