Carrick-on-Shannon

Carrick-on-Shannon is the county town of Leitrim, also its largest town and centre for commerce, trade and tourism. It is currently the boating capital for the inland waterways of the Irish midlands, featuring a number of modern harbours and marinas. The regional office of the newly created All Ireland Waterway Authority is located here as well.

Historically, Carrick-on-Shanon was a huge trade depot for all sorts of goods coming in from the ports of Limerick, Athalone and Dublin. The depot received building supplies, hardware, and large quantities of Guinness stout. When the Grand Canal Company closed in 1960, trade in this area as a major economic force declined.

The trade business was soon replaced by tourism, as the River Shannon and connecting lakes and waterways became the centre for holiday cruises. Cruise companies took advantage of the area’s unspoiled natural beauty to build a paradise for boaters and anglers. Visitors enjoy a variety of cruises that depart from this gateway to the almost 300 miles of continuous lakes and rivers that extend from Belleek in County Fermanagh to Killaloe in County Clare. The waters are peaceful, clean and quiet, making this region a popular vacation destination.

Famous Residents of Carrick-on-Shannon include John McGahern and M.J. McManus. John McGahern, an internationally recognised author, was educated at Presentation Brothers’ College for a career in teaching.

M.J. McManus was born in Carrick-on-Shannon at the Workhouse, which is now St. Patrick’s Hospital, in 1887. His parents were members of the Workhouse staff. He was an avid student of history and left town to study at Farnham College and at London University. McManus taught briefly and then turned to writing, and was a contemporary of Yeats, Shaw, Chesterton and other famous scribes of the period.

In 1916, he returned to Ireland and did much of his writing in and for the benefit of his homeland. His accomplishments include – founding editor of the Irish Free Press, author of its “This Happened Today” section, published poet, and biographer of DeValera. He spent the rest of his career in Irish journalism, and died in 1951. His grave is located at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.