constructed to facilitate it, was found so com- | and supposing that the works of the second and third paratively impracticable that the Commissioners divisions above that city will cost £200,000, accordsuggested the necessity of a further survey, with ing to the acts 5 and 6 William IV., the public dethe view of ascertaining whether the cutting of a fray £100,000,-and of the other half, two parts to be new canal parallel with the river over the whole assessed from the baronies of Upper and Lower Ordistance, might not be preferable to the adopting and mond, county of Tipperary; one part from the barimproving of the navigation as they found it. The ony of Garrycastle, King's county; one part from the third section, from Killaloe to Tarmonbarry, the barony of Tullagh, county of Clare; two parts from Commissioners considered greatly the most impor- the baronies of Leitrim and Longford, county of tant. It embraces a coast of upwards of 200 miles Galway; two parts from the baronies of Moycarne, in extent, comprises the two great lakes, Derg and Athlone, and Roscommon, county of Roscommon; Ree, communicates by the Grand and Royal Canals two parts from the baronies of Brawney and Kilkenny with Dublin, has on or very near its banks many West, county of Westmeath; and one part from the rising towns and villages, passes through a rich and baronies of Rathcline, Moydow, and Longford, counvariously productive country, and, in general, ap-ty of Longford. In a pamphlet published in 1746, pears to present the prospect of a highly remunerat-it is stated that Dr. Bolton, archbishop of Cashel, ing return to judicious efforts for completely opening the navigation to the workings of enterprise and capital. The fourth section, from Tarmonbarry to Leitrim, is reported to require in some places the improvement of the side canals, and in others the formation of new cuts. The fifth section, from Leitrim to the head of Lough Allen, is reported to need little except the deepening of the channel in a few places, and the general repair and improvement requisite for most parts of even the lower sections of the river.

frequently declared that he could remove all the difficulties in the navigation between Lough Allen and Killaloe, for vessels of 30 tons, at the expense of £3,000; and Mr. Gilbert estimated that the river might be made navigable between Killaloe and Limerick for £21,000. The Commissioners, in reference to these two statements, justly refer to these as striking proofs of the deceptive estimates which may be formed on cursory observations, and of the difficulties of obtaining given results.

The Fourth Report of the Commissioners preThe following abstract of the estimates for the sented to Parliament, refers to the Upper Shannon, works proposed between the mouth of the Shannon viz., that part of the river from Tarmonbarry to and Tarmonbarry, is taken from the Second Report Leitrim, the latter town situated below Lough Allen. of the Commissioners, presented to Parliament in This is a distance of 30 miles, and the general ap1838. 1. FIRST DIVISION Or the Lower Shannon,-pearance of the river is broad and deep, occasionally Kilrush pier £8,600, Carrigaholt pier £5,600, Tar- expanding into small lakes, which bear the names of bert £8,600, Querin creek £1,160, Ballylongford Lough Forbes, 3 miles long, and a mile in mean £1,839, Glynn £5,879, Foynes island £8,500, Kil- breadth; Lough Boffin, 2 miles long, and a mile teery £1,836, Cahercon (Kildysert) £1,986, Clare in medium breadth; Lough Sconell, 2 miles long, £4,400, Deel or Askeaton river £900, Maigue river and a mile in mean breadth; Lough Boderig, 2 miles £2,770, total £52,070, to be supplied by the public long, and 3 of a mile in mean breadth; the small exproprietors and adjacent districts. 2. SECOND DIVI- pansions of Lough Tap and Lough Nanogue; and SION or the Limerick navigation,-Arthursferry or Il- Lough Corry, 1 mile long, and mile in mean breadth. lanarone £7,600, the Shannon river at Plassy £3,000, The object of the proposed works in this part of the Castle-Connel £7,600, O'Brien's Bridge, Parteen course of the Shannon, is to remove shoals, eel-weirs, rapid, and other shoals, between Erina and Cusane mill-dams, projecting points; to improve or replace locks, £4,000, total £22,000, to be supplied by the the latter cuts and locks by substantial works; to public, and the adjacent counties and baronies. 3. construct dams at the head of the falls, which are THIRD DIVISION,-1, From Killaloe to Meelick, in- to have a summer level of six feet on the lock-sills; cluding Killaloe, £27,000, Lough Derg £300, Derry and securing such bridges as may be affected by the island £460, White's ford £550, total £28,310; 2. operations, enlarging their water-way where necesMeelick to Athlone, works at Meelick £40,000, sary, and applying swivel or bascule bridges where Shannon-grove or Counsellor's ford £1,277, works at the navigation requires a passage through them. Banagher £25,000, Shannon-Harbour bridge £500, The locks are to be 130 feet long, and 30 feet wide, Leahinch £550, Derryholms £2,200, Bishop's island and the side canals 80 feet of surface water. It is £2,200, Garrymore £950, cut or canal below Shan- expected that a small class of steamers will be amply non bridge £100, improvement in that quarter £7,000, sufficient for the present and prospective wants of Clerhaun £170, Ballynatave £350, Tullymore ford the country, from Tarmonbarry upwards. In con£2,050, Calf island £400, Long island £550, Rain ducting the trade among the works of this division, island £850, total £84,147; 3. Athlone to Tar- are the side-cuts or canals at Cloondragh and monbarry, viz. works at Athlone £60,000, Lough Jamestown to connect the navigation of the Middle Ree £500, Curreen point £550, Lanesborough with the Upper Shannon on a scale suitable for £10,500, Kilnacurragh £1,350, Erragh ford £550, steamers of considerable size; but it is supposed Lodge cut £2,600, total £192,507; also to be sup- that the side-cuts may be found unnecessary after plied by the public, and adjacent counties and bar- careful examination, by removing the shoals in the onies, to which is to be added the sum to be procured bed of the river, and adhering to the channel, by from the same sources, for steam-engine, vessels, and which the expense will be much lessened, though machinery for dredging; general total £266,777. the length of the navigation be increased. A small landing-quay is recommended to be formed about 400 yards above the town of Leitrim, which is to be the terminus of the steam navigation of the Upper Shannon, to which point there will be an uninterrupted steam navigation on the river from Killaloe, a distance of 115 miles, From Leitrim to Lough Allen the course of the Shannon is 44 miles, and is greatly impeded by shoals, rapids, and other obstacles. The present canal will require to be reconstructed when the Arigna ironworks and the adjacent coalfields are

The works connected with the first division, or Lower Shannon, being distinct operations, and in a great measure depending on voluntary contributions, cannot be considered certain; and the estimate for the third division includes new bridges at Banagher and Athlone, the moiety of which to be provided for distinctly by assessment on the adjacent counties. The Commissioners suggested that the works below Limerick should be undertaken solely on the voluntary co-operation of the proprietors with the public;

opened and in extensive operation. As the course Though this number is small when we consider the of the river between Leitrim Harbour and the com- capabilities of this magnificent stream, and its wide mencement of Lough Allen canal is remarkably tor-expanding lakes; it is important as a successful comtuous, and impracticable for steamers unless by in- mencement, for the value of this navigation is only curring great expense, a towing-path can be easily now beginning to be understood. Before the appliconstructed by means of which barges may be tracked cation of steam to vessels as a propelling power, the by horses. At the entrance of the canal into Lough means of developing these capabilities did not in fact Allen, a small harbour or landing-place is recommend-exist. The boat or barge adapted to the stream ed, to serve for the general traffic of Lough Allen, was little suited to traverse the lake, and the and the improving market of Drumshambo, half-construction of towing paths along the shores of a-mile distant. From the site of this harbour, to the latter would have been impracticable. The Reilly island, there are few shoals; and beyond this introduction of steam- vessels not only surmounts the lake is very extensive and deep, with a gradually this difficulty, arising from the expansion of the improving district around. The estimated expense stream at intervals along its course, but, as the of the works on the Fourth Division of the Shannon, Shannon Commissioners have justly remarked, confrom Tarmonbarry to Leitrim, is £161,843 14s. 8d.; verts what was previously a formidable obstacle to that of the Fifth division, from Leitrim to Lough Allen the navigation of this noble river, into one of its canal, is £18,554 5s., exclusive of £2,000 for steam great advantages. The improvements of the navidredging vessels, barges, workshops, machinery, and gation of this river, now in contemplation, will, contingencies; general total amount for the Shan- when executed, greatly increase the traffie by facilinon, £531,028 2s. 54d.; for the Scariff river, £4, 133 tating the means of communicating with the adjacent 11s. 6d.; for improving the navigation of the tribu- country on either bank. A regular, active, and most taries between Killaloe and Tarmonbarry, £5,000; beneficial trading intercourse has been established for the Carnadoe water, £13,815 13s. 1d.; for the between Limerick and Liverpool; below Limerick Boyle water, £30,828 10s.; grand total for the Shan- steam-vessels now ply to Clare, 3 miles below Ennis, non and its tributaries £584,805 17s. 9 d., includ- the county town of Clare, and to Kilrush, and Taring £40,000 for bridges on the river. Of this large bert, thriving places near the mouth of the river. sum the public are to defray £290,716 ls. 4d., the The number of passengers between Limerick, Taradjoining counties and baronies £260,334 6s. 24d., bert, Kilrush, and Clare, in 1836, amounted to the proprietors and districts £27,755 10s. 34d. 23,851. The nature and rapid growth of the Shannon are exemplified by the following returns:

The Fifth and final Report of the Commissioners, also presented to Parliament in 1839, is short, and chiefly relates to the valuations of the divisions of the river between Tarmonbarry and Lough Allen. The Commissioners had before them ninety-three cases, and awarded compensation to the extent of £9,702. They farther state that the callows or flooded lands on the Shannon, from Limerick to Lough Allen, had been surveyed, and comprised 32.500 acres. In 1838, W. T. Mulvany, Esq., civil engineer, was instructed to examine the country, with a view to the formation of a canal to connect the Shannon near Leitrim or Drumsna, with the Erne at Belturbet, or the point near Wattle-Bridge, where the Ulster Canal is to open into the Erne. Mr. Mulvany perambulated the district through the co. of Leitrim into that of Longford. He designates the lines formed as the Ballinamore line, the Mohill line, and the Ballinamuck line, and his estimated expense is as follows: -For 28 miles of canal, including locks, bridges, &c., at £5,000 per mile (the full cost per mile of the Ulster Canal), £142,500; lock regulating weir at Belturbet, and other works, £10,000; shoal between Belturbet and terminus of Ulster Canal, £500; total, £153,000: probable cost of removing shoals, altering bridges, and improving navigation for steam-vessels from Belturbet, by the Erne and Lough Oughter to Killeshandra, £14,000;-in all £167,000, or in round numbers, £170,000." Full details of each of the multitudinous improvements, small as well as great, which were proposed by the Commissioners for improving the navigation of the Shannon, will be found in our articles on the several localities.

"In 1826," says the Second Report of the Railway Commissioners, published in 1838, "Mr. Grantham, an engineer, who had been for some time employed by government in surveying the river, made the first attempt to establish steam-boats on the Shannon-he failed. A Joint Stock Company followed; to these succeeded the Inland Navigation Company, under the able management of a most enterprising individual, Mr. C. W. Williams. There are now nine steamers belonging to this company on the Shannon; six above Limerick, and three below.

The gross freight from Limerick to Dublin for corn, flour, or malt, is 15s. per ton; the toll 5s., or if intended for export 3s. ;- from Galway to Dublin, 21s.; the toll 5s. 11d. The gross freight from Dublin to Limerick for merchandise, from 20s, to 30s.; toll, 5s.;-from Galway to Dublin, 389. 6d.; toll, 9s. 1d."

A topic of very great importance, recently discussed with much ability by Dr. Kane, and strongly challenging attention from the public economists of the empire, as well as from large manufacturing capitalists, is the vast available water-power of the Shannon. "This great river," says Dr. Kane, in his work on the Industrial Resources of Ireland, published in 1844,-"This great river delivers into the sea the rain collected from an area, which, according to Mr. Mulvany's estimate, embraces 3,613 square miles of country, north of Killaloe. In the geographical character of its basin, we find all the conditions for great evaporation fulfilled. The country whose waters it receives is flat, its streams sluggish, the soil upon its banks either deep and retentive clays, or extensive bog. Expanding into

numerous lakes of considerable size, often overflowing the lowlands on its banks, it may be considered as almost in the condition of presenting a true water evaporating surface. Still the quantity of water it carries to the sea is of extraordinary power. It has been observed that, in wet weather, the level of the water in Lough Derg often rises two or three inches in twenty-four hours; and has been known to rise twelve inches. As the area of the Lough is 30,000 statute acres; this extent of water weighs 3,000,000 tons for each inch, and hence, so much as 36,000,000 of tons have accumulated in a single day and night.

month, there are nine months of which the force per foot of fall are

The

This, however, is by no means the whole power of the river, for although in the upper portion of its course it flows through a district unusually level, there is yet between Lough Derg and Lough Allen a total available fall of forty-six feet six inches. We may consider, that at the several points on the river, the supply of water will bear the same proportion to that at Killaloe, as exists between the respective areas of their catchment basins; and this is shown to be a very legitimate assumption, since at Carrick, where the area of basin is about 350 square miles, the minimum quantity of water passing in summer through the bridge has been determined by Mr. Mulvany to be 10,000 cubic feet per minute. This is just a tenth of the minimum at Killaloe, the basin at which is ten times the area of the surface drained at Carrick. The distribution of the falls on the upper and middle Shannon, will be, when the improvements now in progress are completed, as follows:-The area of catchment basin of the river, at each fall, and the average resulting horse-power continuous, is given in the accompanying column of the table.

which give an average of 495 horse-power. other three months are certainly not below the six months of rising and falling; but in order that the final results may not be possibly liable to any suspicion of exaggeration, I shall take the average force of water available per foot of fall, at 350 horsepower, which gives for the ninety-seven feet of fall between Killaloe and Limerick, a total of 33,950 "The average difference between summer and win-horse-power in continuous action, day and night, ter level of the Shannon at Killaloe, where, narrow- throughout the year. ing from Lough Derg, it reassumes the river form, is about six feet, but the total of the rises of the water during the year, are found from a discussion of the observations of three years, to be eleven feet. The rising of the waters occupied in average 77 days in falling to the summer level they occupied 107 days. The quantity of water thus accumulated in the great natural reservoir of the Lough was 532,554,096 cubic yards, or 403,416,600 tons, which is discharged in 107 days at the rate of 155,926 tons per hour. By this, a force continuous day and night of 177 horse-power per foot of fall, may be produced. An equal force is of course available whilst the river is rising, and thus through 184 days, or six months of the year, this enormous power is in action, independent of the ordinary discharge which goes on when the waters are at the lowest. When the river is high, the motive force available is far greater than that just now mentioned. An example furnished to me by Mr. Mulvany will show this sufficiently. On the 2d of December, 1836, when the water was 13 feet on the upper sill of Killaloe lock, the observed discharge was 882,450 cubic feet per minute, and on the 10th of that month, the height was 14 feet 1 inch, on the 18th, 14 feet 4 inches, at which height it continued until the 25th, with of course a greatly increased discharge, on the latter day it began to descend gradually. During the period mentioned, the whole lake rose four inches between the 3d and 4th, and five inches in two days, between the 5th and 7th, and two inches in other days. These grand rises, at that height of water extended over the flooded lands as well as the lake, that is, over a surface of from 36,000 to 38,000 statute acres.' Now the discharge for the month of December 1836, may certainly, from the description above given, be taken at one million cubic feet per minute, that is, one and two-third million of tons of water per hour, capable of producing 1,885 horsepower per foot of fall. The minimum discharge of the Shannon at Killaloe has been estimated by Mr. Mulvany, in the driest summer, so low as 100,000 cubic feet of water per minute. This is equal to a force of 188 horse-power per foot of fall. At this minimum, however, the flow is kept but for a very short time, certainly not more than a month in the year, which is also the duration that may be allotted to the maximum elevation of the waters.

"Although it is not possible to deduce from these returns the actual average force exerted by the waters of this river, yet I consider from all the facts I have been able to collect, regarding its discharge at various seasons, that the mean cannot fall below 350 horse-power per foot of fall. For as the summer level of the river for which the minimum discharge is taken, does not last more than two months, and that during the six months of the rising and the falling of the waters, the force is at least 188+ 177 horse-power per foot of fall, and finally, that the maximum delivery at winter level, lasts at least a

Area of Basin

400

650

780

Height
of Fall.
feet

Total Horse-power.

199

6

252

239

8

656

8
8

1,109

Mouth of Lough Allen, 146 square miles 13
Jamestown,
Rooskey,
Tarmonbarry,
Athlone,
Meelick,

1,321
2,657

2,232

The total continuous power is, therefore, 4,717 horse, which, added to that of the river from Killaloe 33,950, gives a force existing between Limerick and Lough Allen of 38,667 horse-power, supposed in constant action."

The Shannon gives the title of Earl, in the peerage of Ireland, to a branch of the noble family of Boyle, whose elder branch possesses the united earldoms of Cork and Orrery. In 1756, Henry Boyle, Esq. of Castle-Martyr, grandson of Lord Broghill, first Earl of Orrery, son of the Hon. Henry Boyle, and quondam occupant of the situations of Speaker of the House of Commons, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Lord-justice of Ireland, was created Earl of Shannon, Viscount Boyle, and Baron of Castle-Martyr, in the peerage of Ireland; and, in 1786, his son Richard, second Earl, was made Baron Carleton, in the peerage of Great Britain. The family-seat is at Castle-Martyr, in co. Cork. See CASTLE-MARTYR.

SHANNON-AND-ERNE-CANAL, a proposed navigation, in co. Leitrim, Connaught, and co. Cavan, Ulster. Its object is to connect the river Shannon with the river Erne, and to form a junction between the.improved navigation of the Shannon, and the recently completed navigation of the Ulster Canal. Mr. Mulvany, civil engineer, was appointed to survey the country with a view to the formation of the canal; he made his official report in March 1839; and he exhibits three lines by respectively Ballinamore, Mohill, and Ballinamuck, but shows

the first and the second of these each under two erected at Limerick, Banagher, and Athlone, one of phases, so as really to exhibit five lines. The direct the finest upon the Shannon; it commands a full Ballinamore line has a total length of 29 statute view of the flat, boggy country around, and of the miles, of which 28 are canal, and 1 is river; the huge and sinuous bog-ditch formed by the snaky height of its summit-level above the sea is 220 feet; convolutions of the river Suck; it measures 420 feet its total rise and fall is 150 feet; the deepest cutting in length, and has 16 arches across the river, and at its summit is 23 feet; its rate of lockage per two across the brief line of adjacent canal; and its statute mile is 5 feet; and the area of the catch- carriage-way is perfectly level, ample in breadth, ment basin for the supply of its summit-level is and considerably elevated above the water. One of 10,320 acres, of which 670 are lakes. The Ballina- the two arches across the canal admits the transit of more line by Killeshandra is 38 statute miles in boats; and the other, which is small, spans the length, of which 24 are canal, and 14 are river and track-path of the horses. The brief line of canal lake; the height of its summit-level above the sea obviates a fall of about a foot in the current of the is 220 feet; its total rise and fall is 150 feet; the river, in the immediate vicinity of the bridge. The deepest cutting at its summit is 23 feet; its rate of Commissioners for improving the navigation of the lockage per statute mile is 5'75; and the area of the river Shannon, proposed some changes here-particatchment basin for the supply of its summit-level cularly the deepening of the canal cut, the reis 10,320 acres, of which 670 are lakes. The Mo-moval of the lock, and the construction of a swivelhill line, as examined by the Ulster Canal company, bridge across the arch-estimated to cost £7,000. is 30 statute miles in length; the height of its sum- "The Roscommon end of the bridge is occupied by a mit-level above the sea is 239 feet; its total rise and military work, which forms a téte de pont capable of fall is 196 feet; the deepest cutting at its summit is accommodating a small garrison. The public road 31 feet; its rate of lockage per statute mile is 6:53 wends between the barracks and fort, passing through feet; and the area of the catchment basin for the a strong gate; and the place, besides being defended supply of its summit-level is 970 acres, of which 48 by the guns of the fort, is protected on the Conare lakes. The Mohill line, as altered at the sum- naught side by an advanced redoubt on a rising ground mit in order to obtain the whole supply of the dis- to the north of the highway." The fortifications trict, is 32 statute miles in length; the height of its are closely similar to those at Banagher; but the summit-level above the sea is 230 feet; its total rise barracks are larger, and the battery is more conspiand fall is 178 feet; the deepest cutting at its sum- cuous. Shannon-bridge is one of the three fortified mit is 43 or 60 feet; its rate of lockage per statute passes still maintained upon the Shannon, the other mile is 5.60 feet; and the area of the catchment two being Banagher and Athlone. The village is basin for the supply of its summit-level is 4,400 of recent origin, or at least of recent restoration; but, acres, of which 260 are lakes. The Ballinamuck apart from the adjoining garrison, it is a place of very line is 37 statute miles in length, of which 23 are small importance or note. Fairs are held on Jan. 1, canal, and 14 are river and lake; the height of its April 28, June 24, and Sept. 12. On the Roscomsummit-level above the sea is 191 feet; its total rise mon side is a constabulary station; within a mile of and fall is 103 feet; the deepest cutting at its summit the village, on King's co. side, is the seat of Temis 32 feet; its rate of lockage per statute mile is 4 pleduff; and 3 miles up the river are the ecclesiasfeet; and the area of the catchment basin for the tical ruins, and the quondam episcopal town of CLONsupply of its summit-level has not been ascertained, MACNOISE: which see. The environs of Shannonbut is believed to be insufficient. Mr. Mulvany bridge, in a general view, are exceedingly dreary. gives such decided preference to the Ballinamore Area of the village, exclusive of every thing on the line, as to recommend that any further investigations Roscommon side, 24 acres. Pop., in 1831, 559; in or inquiry which might be made should be directed 1841, 398. Houses 67. Families employed chiefly chiefly to it; and he adds, I beg leave to remark, in agriculture, 25; in manufactures and trade, 23; that though this line be not the most direct, as re- in other pursuits, 35. Families dependent chiefly gards a connection between the western terminus of on property and professions, 13; on the directing of the Grand and Royal Canal on the one hand, and the labour, 33; on their own manual labour, 35; on terminus of the Ulster Canal on the other; that it means not specified, 2. is, nevertheless, the best, as being that upon which SHANNON-GROVE, a hamlet and a demesne an ample supply of water for the summit-level can be in the parish of Ardcanny, 1 mile north of Pallasobtained, that which unites most directly the north Kenry, barony of Kenry, co. Limerick, Munster. and west of Ireland, and as combining the greatest The demesne is the property of the Earl of Charlenumber of advantages in a local point of view. With ville; and occupies part of a rich, flat tract of respect to the additional length which, by the adop-country, upon the margin of the estuary of the Shantion of this line, will be given to the navigation be- non, immediately below the influx of the Maig. tween the points referred to, it is but of little importance, inasmuch as the navigation through the additional portion will be effected by steam-power upon the completion of the proposed improvements in the Shannon." A brief notice of the route and termini of the line thus preferred, is given in the article BALLINAMORE: which see.

66

SHANNON-BRIDGE, a village, and a fortified military station, the former in the parish of Clonmacnoise, barony of Garrycastle, King's co., Leinster, and the latter in the parish of Moore, barony of Moycarne, co. Roscommon, Connaught. The village stands on the left bank of the river Shannon, and on the road from Ballinasloe to most parts of King's co., 6 miles south-east by east of Ballinasloe, 8 west of Ferbane, and 651 west of Dublin. The bridge which gives name to the place is, with the exception of the splendid new ones recently

SHANNON-HARBOUR, a village in the parish of Gallon, barony of Garrycastle, King's co., Leinster. It stands on the Grand Canal, and on the road from Shannon-bridge to Banagher, half-a-mile east of the Shannon, 2 miles north-north-east of Banagher, 24 west of Cloghan, and 5) south-south-east of Shannon-bridge. It acquired its name from being the western harbour or terminus of the Grand Canal previous to the cutting of the continuation to Ballinasloe; and it contains the large inn and stores originally constructed by the Canal Company, but now partially used as a constabulary barracks and for other purposes, and presenting a half-forsaken, a cold, and an unprosperous appearance. Within a mile of the village, on the Leinster side of the Shannon, are the seats of Moystown and Huntstown, and the ruins of Liscooney-castle. The transit of the Grand Canal across the Shannon also popularly bears the name of