A new book by Aiveen Cooper entitled ‘The River Shannon – A Journey Down Ireland’s Longest River’ (published by The Collins Press, was launched by Professor John Sweeney at Renehan Hall in NUI Maynooth. The statistics about the Shannon are almost as long as the river itself and quite staggering: At 250km to its tidal limits in Limerick and 370km in total to the mouth of the Shannon estuary, it is the longest river in Great Britain and Ireland.
Its catchment area occupies 15,000sq.km, one-fifth of Ireland’s landmass.
This is a timely publication because although the River Shannon has always played an important part in Irish life, culturally, economically and environmentally, this importance is illustrated even more today.
Dublin City Councill has recently submitted a proposal for a controversial new scheme to take large amounts of water from the Shannon for Dublin’s future water needs.
It has been argued that this would hinder the river and the habitats that surround it enormously.
‘The River Shannon – A Journey Down Ireland’s Longest River’ is not only the story of the Shannon but also its role in human lives.
