Heritage
As the surface rising of Ireland’s longest river, the Shannon Pot’s fame can be traced back to the legendary Finn MacCool and the Fianna, the great warriors of Irish mythology. Legend has it that Síonnan, the daughter of Lodan (a son of the Celtic God of the Sea, Lír), came to Shannon Pot in search of the great Salmon of Wisdom. The great salmon was angered at the sight of Síonnan and caused the pool to overflow and drown the maiden. Thus, the Shannon was created and still bears her name today.
The Shannon Pot is around 16m in diameter, and divers have explored up to 9 meters in depth. The spring flows year-round and is linked to streams that disappear into limestone rock higher up in the Geopark.
The site is extremely peaceful and perfect for a visitor seeking some tranquillity. It is fringed with beautiful trees, including the wonderful species, Blackthorn. Because of this, it is easy to see why the site has been saturated with stories of mythology and magic. We can see why our ancestors would have revered this sparkling, circular pool, which is indicative of peacefulness, harmony and sanctuary.
