The Shannon Pot (Lag na Sionna)
The traditional source of the River Shannon, Ireland's longest river, in County Cavan.
The Shannon Pot (Lag na Sionna) is a small, deep pool on the slopes of Cuilcagh Mountain in County Cavan, traditionally regarded as the source of the River Shannon, Ireland's longest river.
In legend, a young woman named Sionann came here to seek the salmon of knowledge; the waters rose up and drowned her, and the river that flowed forth was given her name.
At a glance
- The traditional source of the River Shannon, Ireland's longest river.
- A deep pool on the slopes of Cuilcagh Mountain, Co. Cavan.
- Named in legend after Sionann, who sought the salmon of knowledge.
In County Cavan
The Shannon Pot is in County Cavan, An Cabhán in Irish, which means “the hollow”.
More in Cavan
- Cuilcagh Mountain (Binn Chuilceach): A flat-topped mountain straddling the Cavan-Fermanagh border, source of the Shannon.
- Lough Oughter (Loch Uachtair): A maze of interlinked lakes and drowned drumlins in Cavan's lakeland.
Other places of this kind
- The Cliffs of Moher (Aillte an Mhothair): Sea cliffs located at the southwestern edge of the Burren region.
- Newgrange (Sí an Bhrú): A prehistoric monument in County Meath, older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids.
- The Giant's Causeway (Clochán an Aifir): Around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns on the Antrim coast, a UNESCO site wrapped in the legend of Finn McCool.
- Glendalough (Gleann Dá Loch): A beautiful glacial valley of two lakes, home to one of Ireland's most important early monastic settlements.
- The Rock of Cashel (Carraig Phádraig): A dramatic outcrop crowned with medieval buildings, once the seat of the kings of Munster.
- Clonmacnoise (Cluain Mhic Nóis): A great early monastery on the banks of the Shannon, once a renowned centre of learning.
The Irish name
The Irish form of The Shannon Pot is Lag na Sionna. You can hear it spoken, and take apart names like it, in the Placename Explorer. The authoritative record for any Irish place-name is logainm.ie.