Traditionally, the River Shannon source is located at the
Shannon Pot, 340 feet above sea level on Cuilcagh Mountain near
Dowra, County Cavan, although nowadays it is known to also come
from several other sources, the main one being in Northern
Ireland.
Meandering 240 miles through Lough Allen across the central
plain to Loop Head in County Clare, and eventually the Atlantic, it
is the longest river in Ireland. The Shannon is named after
Sionnan, who was the granddaughter of Manannan Mac Lir, or God of
the Sea. She came to this spot to eat the fruit of the forbidden
Tree of Knowledge, which was planted by the Druids. As she began to
eat it, the waters of the pool sprang up and overwhelmed her,
drawing her down into it to flow out later across the land, thus
the River Shannon sprung up.
The Notice Board legend has it that Sinnann, the daughter of
Lodan, came to the Shannon Pot in search of the Salmon of Wisdom.
The great salmon was angered at the sight of Sinnann and caused the
pool to overflow and drown the fleeing maiden. Thus was the Shannon
created which still bears her name.
The cache is a small tablock box 10cm x 6cm x 5cm and contains a
few small trinkets.