A Journey Through Time: Exploring the Rich History of the Shannon Estuary Way
The Shannon Estuary Way carries significant history of the Irish waterways in the west of Ireland seen through the many landmarks along the way. In recent years, Irish Tourism has grown in the surrounding areas of the Shannon Estuary in the counties Clare, Limerick, and Kerry. Discover the Ancient Landmarks of Bunratty Castle of County Clare down to Celtic Park & Gardens of Kilcornan, Limerick. Step back in time on the heritage of where Ireland’s longest river meets the Wild Atlantic Ocean with the Shannon Estuary Way.
The famous Estuary dates as far back to 1700’s, where it was used as a route for trade with many countries around the world. The famous Shannon Estuary connected Ireland with the world making it the main maritime route as its deep water made it accessible to large vessels for trade of goods in Ireland. This Shannon history can be seen today through the ports of Foynes, Limerick, and Shannon which have handled a variety of cargo, making the Shannon Estuary an integral part of Ireland’s history and development. As seen today, these water routes are still in use for many ships entering Ireland for trade, and in recent years a ferry service has been introduced to connect West Clare to Kerry in under twenty minutes! Connect through Killimer in Clare over the estuary to Tarbert in Kerry.
Step back to the 1800’s when the British built half a dozen battery forts along the Shannon Estuary to repel against from a threatened invasion by Napoleonic forces. Discover the Kilkerrin Battery Fort, the one of many forts, near the quaint village of Labasheeda on the mouth of the estuary in West Clare. This was built between the years of 1811 and 1814, used by soldiers to defend against attackers and to grow vegetables in the surrounding fields. However, the battery was then abandoned which today is a main element for tourism along the Shannon Estuary Way welcoming hundreds of tourists yearly to this unique historical site.
Discover Ringmoylan Pier situated along the estuary in Pallaskenry, County Limerick. This is a pivotal historic element of the Estuary that was built in the 1830s which connected the Irish people to America and Canada during the Great Irish Famine. Local people escaping hunger and poverty fled on small skiffs to waiting ships on the Shannon Estuary seeking the famous American dream across the pond of the Atlantic Ocean. This is a famous element of the Shannon Estuary as Irish people visit here to see how their past relatives moved on to a new life, leaving behind families and friends.
The historical Tarbert Lighthouse is located where the Shannon River meets the Atlantic Ocean, constructed in 1830 by Robert Stevenson. The lighthouse is a seventy-four feet limestone tower which was built in response to increased trade in the port of Limerick and the inability of ships to spot treacherous rocks. This historical building is a remarkable addition to the Shannon Estuary Way’s heritage located in the small town of Tarbert, County Kerry. Today, the lighthouse stands in commemoration of the rich history of the estuary, increasing tourism in all three surrounding counties.
The Shannon Estuary unlocks all visitors to the rich history of County Clare, Limerick, and Kerry. With the inclusion of all major attractions, restaurants and accommodations, these historical sites provide areas of remarkable beauty connecting Ireland’s longest river with the world. Therefore, it can be confirmed that the Shannon Estuary Way has an undeniable interesting history boosting the Irish Tourism year-on-year.