IT was Mark Twain that said, “the less there is to justify a traditional custom, the harder it is to get rid of it”. This certainly rang through of the strange sight in the middle of the River Shannon last Friday (June 28).
Partaking in a practice that dates back to 1765, Mayor of Limerick John Moran boarded a traditional gandelow and was surrounded by a flotilla of local boats as he performed the ‘dropping of the dart’ ceremony.
Mayor Moran threw a dart, made of hazelwood, into the river, symbolising his authority as Admiral of the Shannon. Dressed in ceremonial robes, accessorised with a life vest, Limerick’s new first citizen appeared to be enjoying the fanfare of this unusual custom.
The history behind the ceremony lies as far back as 1609, when King James I granted a charter that bestowed the mayor with “exclusive admiralty jurisdiction” over a portion of the River Shannon extending three miles northeast of the city to the sea mouth, including all associated creeks and banks.
However, the title of Admiral of the Shannon was not merely ceremonial, it entailed practical responsibilities such as overseeing safe passage of ships, facilitating trade, and protecting the city’s interests.
The man now tasked with these responsibilities, Mayor John Moran, was glad to keep this long established tradition alive by throwing the ceremonial dart into the river.
“It is important that we make better use and protect the natural ecosystem of our rivers in Limerick. To do that, we need to encourage and support the communities currently using them,” Mayor Moran explained.
“I wanted to use today’s traditional event to highlight that priority for me. As I said in my election programme, imagine a full use of our majestic river Shannon in the centre and all along the estuary and a morning swim in a pool on the river or an evening walk along the riverbank looking at a fleet of sailing boats heading off into the sunset.”
Mayor Moran was also seen enjoying some riverside revelry when he joined in the annual Fishing for Fun event this past weekend, organised by local fisherman Seanie Quinlivan, where 300 trout were released on the canal bank by St Mary’s Rugby Club to help encourage recreational angling in the area.
