Castleconnell
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Castleconnell_railway_station.jpg
Castleconnell (Caisleán Uí Chonaill in Irish) is a scenic village on the banks of the River Shannon, about 11 km (7 miles) from Limerick city and within a few minutes walk to counties Clare and Tipperary. The ruin of the 'Castle of Connell', built on a rock outcrop overlooking the bend of the river, was destroyed in a siege by the army of Dutch Orangeman General Ginkel, fighting in support of the Army of William of Orange at the end of the 17th Century. Today, a large chunk of the castle wall lies perhaps fifty feet from the castle, thrown clear across the road by siege cannons. A footbridge over the Shannon - built during the 1939-1945 Emergency by the Irish Army - connects the two counties. Known for its fishing - both coarse and sport - it has a history as a fishing destination stretching back into the 19th Century. Reputedly fished by royalty in those days, many fine salmon and trout have been caught in its environs. The Shannon Electricity Scheme and its Ardnacrusha dam at Parteen changed the fortunes of the village considerably in the 1930's when it reduced the flow of water south of the dam to approximately one sixth, dropping water levels along the Shannon. The river at Castleconnell is also known for its rich bird life, and particularly its swans, many of which are migratory Icelandic Whooper Swans wintering and breeding on the river. The native swans are mute.
- See also: List of towns in the Republic of Ireland