Shannon

Shannon, the largest river of Ireland, rises in the Cuilcagh Mountains, County Cavan, and falls after a course of 254 miles into the Atlantic Ocean between Loop Head and Kerry Head. Flowing south-westwards, it soon reaches Lough Allen in Leitrim; thence it proceeds through a succession of expansions—Loughs Boderg, Bofin, Forbes, Ree, and Derg—past the towns of Carrick, Athlone, and Killaloe, to Limerick. There it departs from the southerly direction it has hitherto pursued and turns westwards, forming a wide estuary some 70 miles long and 10 miles across at its seaward extremity. About 10 miles from the entrance the river narrows to about $1\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ mile in width. Outward navigation commences at Foynes, which is connected by railway with Limerick, and from which steamboats ply daily to Kilrush, Tarbert, and the intermediate stations. Vessels of 1000 tons can, however, get up to Limerick, and small steamers to Athlone; boats ascend the river to beyond Lough Allen. Several tributaries fall into the Shannon, as the Suck and Fergus from the right, and the Inny, Brosna, Mulkear, Maigue, and Deel from the left. The main river is canalised for some distance below Athlone, and again between Killaloe and Limerick. This important system of navigation, which occupies a position almost midway between the east and west coasts of Ireland, is connected with Dublin by means of the Grand and Royal Canals.