Eel Weirs — Clonahenoge

A large fish trap which which spans the River Shannon from Clonahenoge in County Offaly to Meelick in County Galway (GA109-062----). The monument consists of a series of fish traps which form a linear barrier crossing the River Shannon which are indicated as eel weirs on the first edition of the OS 6-inch map. The Franciscan Friary of Meelick (GA108-124001-) and an earthwork (GA108-126) which may be the remains of an Anglo-Norman earth and timber castle are located c. 190m to the NW of the centre of the weirs. The fish-trap on the Offaly side of the river Shannon consists of a curvilinear dry stone wall or spread of stone (L 37m; Wth 1.7m; H above river bed 0.7m) which runs off the SE bank of the River on the Offaly side at Clonahenoge and runs NW at an angle into the river where it forms a barrier with a second section of dry stone wall. There is a gap (Wth c. 2m) between these two sections of wall into which the basket or net to catch fish were inserted. To the N of this opening there is second stretch of wall which forms a second fish trap in the centre of the river and there appears to be several more fish traps which span the river in a linear fashion at this point. These fish traps which form a linear set of barriers crossing the river Shannon from Clonahenoge to Meelick in Co. Galway are indicated on the 1838 edition of the OS six inch maps and are also shown on the 1809 William Larkin map of County Offaly. Upstream of these fish weirs there appear to be several linear spreads of stone running from E-W which appear to form channels directing the fish into the openings of the fish traps. To the S of the wall of the fish trap nearest the E bank of the River adjacent to the townland of Clonahenoge there apears to be an enclosed pond or fish garth defined by a drystone wall or spread of stones which forms a large pool or pond into which the fish may have been stored after they were caught. This pond is enclosed by a spread of stone which runs off the curvilinear wall of the fish pond and onto the island indicated as Weir Island on the current edition of the OS 6-inch map. Beneath and amongst the stones of the fish weir are the remains of freshwater shellfish which form clusters of shells deposited beneath and amongst the stones of this trap. Further upstream on the Galway side of the River Shannon there are the remains of smaller single V-shaped stone fish traps. The fish traps located at Incherky c. 840m upstream to the NE which are indicated on the first edition of the OS 6-inch map were removed by the Shannon drainage scheme in the mid 19th century. Compiled by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload / revision : 14 July 2010