The Shannon Pot is a pool in the karst landscape near Cuilcagh Mountain An aquifer-fed naturally fluctuating pool, it is the traditional source of the River Shannon. The pool itself is about 16 metres (52 feet) wide. It was first explored by divers in 1971 to a depth of 6 metres.
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, Manannán mac Lir), came to the Shannon Pot to eat the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, which was planted by the druids. 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.
There is a possibility that this is not in fact the source of the Shannon and that this pot is connected to another such feature across the border in County Fermanagh known as Pigeon Pot. At any rate, have a look back at how the mighty Shannon ends in Limerick above and marvel at how such a mighty river starts its journey from such an insignificant source.