merrion street

The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan T.D. will this morning launch a documentary film on the history of the Shannon Fisherman.
This film on the Shannon Fisherman, which is being supported under the Creative Ireland Programme, interweaves various aspects of Limerick's rich heritage – natural, cultural, the landscape, traditional skills, and a rich folklore. It reveals an ever-changing, evolving environment and a community, whose pattern of life was dictated by the seasons, by the flowing tides, and by outside factors sometimes beyond their control.

The Shannon estuary is a well-documented area with a natural rich biodiversity that has provided a transport corridor for humans for thousands of years and provides enormous resources in terms of employment, recreation and tourism.

This film reveals a Limerick with a long fishing tradition and a unique relationship with the River Shannon from Doonass upriver, all the way down to Scattery Island in the Shannon Estuary. Fishing took place between these two junctions, with different stretches of the river fished by different communities who depended on the river for their livelihood.

Fishing the Shannon was a tradition that was passed down the generations. This film captures a moment in time, a record for posterity, a reflection on a unique history. It shines a light on a shared heritage comprised of various crafts and skills, different memories and different perspectives. Advances in digital technology and social media mean that this unique and fascinating story can now be shared around the world.

This unique project epitomised by local commitment and collaboration between local organisations, local communities and local authorities was funded under Pillar II of the Creative Ireland Programme – Enabling Creativity in Every Community. A full breakdown of projects funded in 2017 under the Programme is available here