SHANNON, the largest of the rivers of Ireland, rises in the Cuilcagh mountains, eounty of Cavan, and after a course of 230 in. falls into the Atlantic ocean between the headlands of Loop and Kerry Head. It is commonly divi led into two portions, the upper Shannon from its source to Limerick, and the lower Shannon from Limerick to the sea, a distance of 53 miles. In its upper course it passes from its source in Cavell to lough Allen in the county of Leitrim; thence through a difficult channel. where floe navigation is in part transferred to a cant]. to a small extension called Corry lough. and with ill:emotions of river aml lake, to lough Forbes, iii the county of Longford. on leaving which the river for a time attains in averages width of 230 yards as far as Lanesbor ough. Here it is again merged in a lake called lough The. which stretches 10 tn. south ward to within 2 in. of Athlone. At this point great natural difficulties have been over come, and the course of the river, by Shonnon harloor and Portnmna, and through the picturesque lough Derg lu Killaloe, has been so deepened and improved that a regular passenger and goeds traffic 'is maintained. From Killaloe to Limerick navigation, owing to the rapid fall, is again in part transferred to a canal. On approaching Limerick the river divi les into two branches, and on the island thus formed stands what is known as the Irish town, in contradistinction to the English town, of Limerick. From tho city, where au extensive and commodious; range of quays hos been built to the sea, the Shannon is navigable to sea-going vessels; and though nemr the city very shallow at low water. the navigation for the last 40 m. is free at all times of the tide. The entrance
between Kerry Head and Loop is 7 tn. across. About 10 m. from the entrance the river narrows to about a mile and a half in width. At however. the outward navi gation commences at Foynes, which is connected by railway with Limerick. and from which steamboats daily ply to Tartish. Tarber, toed the intermediate stations. Sev eral rivers of considerable size-fall into the Shannon during its course. as the Suck, the Brosna, the Fergus, the Maigue, and the Peale. The improvement of the Shannon was commenced tinder the Irish parliament. In 1S17 the work was placed under a board of commissioners, by whom a sum of more than half a million was expended. It has since been transferred to the hoard of works or local government hoard. The navigation is open from the bead of lougdo Allen to Limerick, a distance of 143 m, in a direct. course, but by the addition of the Boyle hranch of 9 in , and the Strohestown branch of 6 no„ total length of river and canal navigation of 158 m. is now open, over 120 m. of which large river-steamers freely ply. This important system of navigation, which occupies a position almost midway between the e. mid w. coasts of Ireland, is connected with lin by means of the Grand and Royal canals. The amount of tolls, etc., received in t% as 42.2,701; and in 1875-6, I:0,809; expenditure in 1b75-6, '13,274.