The Shannon Estua y Defences. The Shannon across the Shannon and an attack on A striking example during the Dublin would have had most chance of Navoleonic wars of the effectiveness of The British authorities in Ireland were success. fortifying natural features to improve well aware of the strategic importance of General Humbert's campaign in late their defensive potential was the the Shannon. The river barrier had been August and September, 1798, illustrated construction of the 'Lines of Torres a significant factor in the closing stages the importance of the Shannon, and its Vedras' by the British and Portuguese of the Williamite War of 1688-91. On that lakes (and particularly the strategic forces under Wellington, keeping the occasion the attack came from the east, importance of the crossing points at fords French army out of Southern Portugal the Irish defence of Connaught being and bridges) as a line of defence against a during the winter of 1810-11. Although essentially along the line of the Shannon, French expedition landing in Connaught the Portuguese mountain terrain is quite giving prominence to such fortified river- with the intention of marching on different to the comparatively, flat crossing points as Athlone and Limerick, Dublin, the natural objective of any country of the middle Shannon, it is as well-as to other locations with invasion force. The United Irishmen of interesting that the 'Lines' were temporary defences such as Lanesboro, Longford and Westmeath had assembled approximately 30 miles long, the same as Banagher and Portumna. to join Humbert, and after heading the length of the Shannon between Between 1769 and 1770, Charles towards Sligo, he turned south-east Lough Derg and Lough Ree. Vallencey, later to become Director of having crossed the Shannon north of 'A General Statement of the quantity Engineers in Ireland, worked on maps Carrick-on-Shannon, with the idea of and tenure of land required by the and plans to accompany Lord marching on Dublin. He was finally Government for the service of Towers Townsend's report on the defence of surrounded at Ballinamuck by a British and Batteries along the coast, the works Ireland. The Shannon river-crossings force vastly superior in numbers, and at Athlone, along the Shannon, Clonony were evidently included in this work. forced to surrender. and on Bear Island. Engineer Office French invasion plans in 1796 The strategic importance of Athlone Dublin, 29th January 1806', (State Paper included Galway Bay as a suitable was also demonstrated on this occasion, Office, Dublin Castle 531 No. 230/2) landing place, providing reasonably easy as was the importance of the Grand gives details of proposed and existing access across Ireland to Dublin, by CanaI as a rapid means of transporting defences along this part of the Shannon. crossing the Shannon between ~ou~htroops and equipment from Dublin Derg and Lough Ree. Direct landings at towards the Shannon. The Athlone The Estuary Belfast, Dublin or Wexford were not garrison was increased, the Castle eventually attempted, due to the British repaired and rebuilt, and during the The mouth of the Shannon was one of control of the Irish Sea. The various early years of the nineteenth century the three invasion areas included in the French expeditions between 1796 and extensive fortifications were built to the French Directory's instructions to Vice- 1798 were therefore directed at the south- west of the town. Admiral Villaret de -,loveuse in October,

west, west and north-west coasts of The Shannon between Portumna and 1796, during" the vre~arations1 A of the Ireland, in order to avoid contact with Athlone, a distance along the river itself- -pedition to Ireland. The suggested units of the British Navy. Of all the of about 30 miles, was strengthened as a landing places in order to preference proposed or attemptgd landings in defensive line by works at Meelick and were given as Galway Bay, Bantry Bay Ireland at this tide, perhaps a Incherky Island to cover fords, and at and the Shannon estuary. Part of the disembarkation on the shores of Galway Banagher and Shannonbridge to form orders issued to the ship's captains of the Bay, followed by a rapid march inland bridgehead defences. French Fleet that finally arrived in Bantry The Shannon, near Tarbert.

Bay in December, 1796, included a The Shannon estuary provided 1806 and 1815. No mention of these rendezvous at the mouth of the Shannon, several harbours, landing places and batteries or heir sites is made in the State in case of separation and failure to meet anchorages suitable for landing troops Paper office list of land required for off Mizen Head in West Cork. and unloading artillery and stores, a defence work the east coast, the Upper After several days waiting and good anchorage being provided by Shannon and in Bantry Bay, dated 29 indecision in Bantry Bay, Wolfe Tone on Tarbert roads, the part of the river partly January, 1806, (S.P.0 531 No. 230/2) board the ship-of-the-line Indomptable sheltered by Tarbert Island to the west General Dumouriez, in his Military was in favour of the ships that still and north-west. Memoir on the Defence of Ireland, 2 January, remained in the bay on 27th December The Topographical Dictionary of Ireland 1808, advocated siting batteries at the (seven sail of the line and one frigate) by Lewis, published some twenty years narrow mouth (about two miles wide) of attempting a landing at the mouth of the after the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the river. A battery was subsequently Shannon. As the ships-of-the-line were describes this anchorage: built on the northern shore here - on each carrying between 500 and 600 Tarbert: Affording a safe and Kilcredaun Point. He also suggested a hundred soldiers, and the frigates commodious roadstead for about 150 battery on Carrig Island anda fort on evidently had on board about 250 to 300, vessels of the largest class, may be Scattery Island; batteries were in fact a total of perhaps 4,000 men could have considered an asylum harbour. Sheltered built in these two locations later. Also been landed. on N.W. by the Island of Tarbert- proposed were a fort on 'Killahin' It is possible that if even this force had connected by a narrow causeway for foot promontory (this is presumably Kilkerin been put ashore somewhere in the passengers and cut off by high water Point where a battery was built) and a Shannon estuary it would have had a springs. battery on Foynes Island. Dumouriez chance of capturing Limerick, and have The Ordnance Survey Maps of 1840-42 does not mention Tarbert Island, been at least as effective as Humbert's show a total of six coastal batteries presumably because of the seven gun expedition in August, 1798, which located in the Shannon estuary, together battery already in existence at the time of consisted of only 1,019 French troops. with the site of a battery on Foynes his report. Small detachments of the government Island further upstream. These batteries Included in his proposal for the forces regular, fencible and militia, in were: on the north or Clare shore from defence of the estuary were the use of Kerry, Limerick and Cork had been sent the west, at Kilcredaun Point, Doonaha, gunboats (useful in restricted and on forced marches down towards Bantry, and ~ilkerinPoint (opposite Tarbert shallow water, and in calm weather and were assembling at positions Island): on the south or County Kerry against much larger vessels), bomb- between Bantry and Cork, in such towns shore at Corran Point on Carrig Island, ketches and fireships. These were to be as Bandon and Mallow. and on Tarbert Island; and in the centre moored or anchored in various locations, Consequently, a French landing at the of the estuary on the southern point of below Kilrush, in Tarbert Roads and lower Shannon would certainly have met Scattery Island. further upstream. Presumably, some of with little opposition by land forces, the The battery or fort at Tarbert Island these vessels would have been manned Limerick garrison being at least two days was of a different plan to the other by the 'Sea Fencibles', the naval reserve march from Tarbert. The Irish Militia by Shannon batteries, and dates from the of the period made up of merchant Sir Henry McAnally describes how the mid 1790s.. It is not shown on Cowan's seamen and fishermen, and commanded Londonderry militia company stationed chart of the Shannon, dating from after by naval officers. at Tarbert marched to Mallow, joining the 1794, but is indicated on a military map "TheShannon estuary batteries are all other companies of the Londonderry, and in the National Library (ref. 16L 181, of similar layout with the exception of the Louth and Westmeath qilitia, which which dates from between 1793 and 1798, the earlier battery at Tarbert which had all been marched frdin Limerick forming part of a military survey of resembled an obtuse pointed bastion in during the first days of the French Fleet Ireland by Vallencey. The remaining plan. being in Bantry. batteries were presumably built between The battery in each case is semi- the removal of the stonework causing th counterscarp and rampart to gradua collapse. The blockhouse remains; t I doorway having been altered a extended in recent years to form an opening at ground level. The roof level gun-platform, with its positions for the two howitzers, is approached from #irst floor level by a staircase built within fhe wall thickness. Some loose masonry Was fallen from the inner part of the massive surrounding parapet. The Topographical Dictionary of Ireland by Lewis notes Corran Point: 'a battery and bombproof barrack for 20 men, it is a station of the coastguard.'

Kilcredaun Blockhouse. 3. Doonaha Battery, circular or 'D' shaped in plan, particular blockhouse the floor structure CO. Clare surrounded by a dry moat, with six-pns has collapsed) is the gun-platform, Some 3l/2 miles north-east of Kilcredaun (the only exception being the four gun carried on the barrel-vaulted ceiling of Point, Doonaha was similar to the other battery at Doonaha) arranged around the the first floor apartment. batteries except that it was slightly curved part of the perimeter, firing out Musket loops are provided in the smaller and mounted four 24 pounder over the broad parapet, across the basement level of the blockhouse guns instead of the usual six. estuary. The rear of the battery was allowing close defence of the moat in the The moat is badly eroded, though it is protected by a rectangular blockhouse or manner of a caponiere. More musket more complete than that at Corran Point. 'bomb-proof barrack' built in the moat in loops at the first-floor level, evidently The 'bombproof barrack' is half the centre of the landward side. On the originally provided with shutters on the demolished, and clearly shows how roof of the blockhouse were two exterior, commanded the interior area of strongly built these structures were; the 'howitzer' guns. the battery. Other musket loops are iron pivot for the central mounting for The sketch of the Kilkerin Point arranged on the opposite side of the one of the traversing carriages is visible battery illustrates the main charac- blackhouse, facing the ground outside at the western end at roof level. teristics of the lavout. A similar batterv the batterv. a feature onlv found at was built on ;he upper ~hannoi; ~ilcredaunibnthe floor of Le building, 16 Keelogue Battery on fnchercky Island protected by broad parapets, six feet some miles downstream of Banagher. high, two guns were mounted on 4. Scattery Island Similar defence works were built along traversing carriages; these were Battery, Co. Clare the Thames estuary during this period howitzers which fired explosive shells - but no longer survive. In these Shannon hollow iron shells filled with gunpowder, Situated on the southern extremity of the estuary forts we have unique examples with a fuse attached, timed to explode if Island, close to the more recent of Napoleonic period coastal artillery possible on impact. lighthouse, this battery from the evidence defences. The traversing carriages, one at each of aerial photographs appears to be in end of the gun-platform enabled the good condition, and of the same layout guns to be trained round through an as the other batteries. 1. Kilcredaun Point angle of about 270". The main armament of the battery consisted of six 24 pounder 5. Tarbert island Battery, Co. Clare cannon, mounted on traversing carriages and firing over the rampart of the Battery This battery commanded the northern battery. These guns could be loaded with side of the mouth of the Shannon, at this Evidently demolished during the solid iron 24 pounder shot, or with building of the E.S.B. power station in particular point being about 2 miles 'canister' or 'grape shot'. recent years, plans show it was five-sided wide. The battery, forming a 'D' shape The general remarks describing this in outline, with two sides facing enclosure on plan, has had much of the battery and its apament are applicable northwards across the estuary, giving a stone facing removed from the scarp and to the other batteries, except that on 'bastion' shaped plan. Of the seven 24 counter-scarp of the dry moat since the Tarbert Island. site was abandoned as a military post, pounder cannon one was positioned presumably sometime in the mid- or late centrally at the salient angle of the two nineteenth century. Entrance to the 2. Corran Point northward facing sides. The blockhouse battery was originally across a with its howitzers was positioned on the drawbridge over the moat. The Battery, Carrig Island, landward or southern side in the moat blockhouse or 'bombproof barrack' is in a which surrounded the battery, and good state of on the Co. Kerry having one more gun, it followed the exterior. It was entered from within the This battery commanded the southern same basic arrangement as the others. battery by a small pedestrian part of the channel of the river between drawbridge. The date 1814 is cut in the Carrig Island and Scattery Island, a keystone of the doorway. The blockhouse distance of about two miles. With a 6. Kilkerin Point had a basement or lower ground floor, similar battery on Scattery Island the Battery, Co. Clare level with the base of the dry moat in passage of the river here was completely which it stands. The upper floor, level covered by fire from their 24 pounder yilkerinPoint is directly opposite Tarbert with the ground-level within the battery, cannon, which had a range of somewhat Island which is just over a mile away to is that approached originally by the over a mile. the south-west. In certain wind smaller drawbridge. The moat and ramparts of the battery conditions, ships sailing up-river at this Above this floor level (in this at Corran Point have almost disappeared, point would be forced to tack or change The Shannon at Limerick. course, following the bend in the river. the massive barrel-vault supporting the large French expedition. Humbert's The batteries, on Kilkerin and Tarbert gun-platform was regarded as a successes with his small army, in his completely command the river here and protection for the apartment below from short campaign in the summer of 1798, sailing ships would have been extremely mortar fire. The blockhouse can be demonstrated this. vulnerable, well within the range of the considered as a rectangular equivalent of Another factor in the Irish situation 24 pounder guns. The batteries also had a Martello tower. As on the Martello. the which Dumouriez allowed for in his furnaces for heating the cast-iron shot gun-crews and the guns themselves were Memoir, was the probability of another red-hot, which could easily set fire to the extremely vulnerable to a well-placed rising as soon as a further French wooden sailing ships of the period. mortar shell. expedition landed, giving the Gover- Kilkerin Point is the best preserved Moving further upstream, the first nment forces the dual role of defence and example of Shannon estuary batteries edition of the Ordnance Survey 6" map counter-insurgency. that I have seen. (Scattery Island, judging shows the site of a battery on the western by aerial photographs, appears to be in point of Foynes Island (map, no. 7) REFERENCES similar condition). The dry moat still (another site suggested by General The Irish Sword. Journal of the Military retains a large proportion of the stone Dumouriez). This was evidently an History Society of Ireland. Vol. IX Nos 35 facing to the scarp and counterscarp. earthwork or temporary battery, and 36 for: The blockhouse is quite well occupied for the duration of the war only. 'General Dumouriez and Irish preserved on the exterior, and in the In Limerick, King John's Castle had Defence' by J.A. Maccarthy. centre of the battery area is a small semi- barrack buildings built in the courtyard Consists of a full translation of the basement structure covered with earth, in the 1760's; the rest of the castle was in Mernozr of 1808. shown on some plans as 'shell filling bad repair in the 1790's; and sub- Vol. X, No. 40 room'. sequently at some stage during the next 'Captain Mac Sheehy's Mission' by The gate piers at the main entrance to twenty years repairs and alterations were F.W Van Brock. A description of the the battery still retain the small iron carried out to the towers and gatehouse, journey to Ireland of a young Irish officer pulley wheels for the drawbridge and cannon mounted behind new in the French army, in order to report to hoisting arrangement. parapets and embrasures. The work here Tone and General Hoche about the Some approximate dimensions of the resembles similar alterations carried out defences of the country and the plans of Kilkerin battery and blockhouse can also at Athlone Castle at the same time. the United Irishmen. The Irish leaders he be used as a guide for the other batteries. New barracks were built in Limerick met were in favour of a French landing at The dry moat is about 20 feet wide, in the early years $f, the nineteenth Lough Swilly and at Galway. He and somewhat less in depth from the century, as the strategic importance of the returned to France a few days after the exterior ground level. The width of the city as the lowest river-crossing point on Bantry Fleet had departed. battery is about 250 feet, while the the Shannon was clearly recognised. The Irish Militia by Sir Henry blockhouse measures approximately 54 In General Dumouriez's Memoir, MacNally. A detailed study of the origins feet long by 33 feet wide externally, the Limerick was to be the headquarters of and organisation of the Militia in Ireland, walls being about 7 feet thick. an army division, with various large during this period. (This compares with the blockhouse detachments in Co. Clare and Co. Kerry. For a detailed description of artillery at Keelogue battery on Inchercky Island The Shannon estuary defence works defenses of a similar estuary, see: 'Tilbury on the Upper Shannon, which is 54 feet were well sited to cause maximum Fort and the development of Artillery long by 32 feet wide, indicating a damage to an enemy fleet making its Fortification in the Thames Estuary' by standard size. The controlling factor way up-river, or attempting to land an A.D. Saunders, M.A., in the Antiquaries would have been the gun-platform for invasion force. In themselves they would Journal Vol. XI., July-October, 1960, the two howitzers and the size of their not have prevented a French landing in numbers 3,4. traversing carriages.) strength. Mr. Saunders is Principal Inspector of The Topographical Dictionary of Ireland Only well co-ordinated mobile bodies - WntMonuments for England, describes Kilkerin: 'on Kilkerin Point, a of troops, supported by strategically Inspeclor of Ancient and Historic battery of six pounders, two howitzers placed supply depots and garrisons as buildings, Departments of the and a bombproof barrack for $20 artillery- suggested by General Dumouriez in his Environment, London. men.' comprehensive proposals would have (Reprinted from An Cosantoir, The term 'bombproof' suggests that had a reasonable chance of defeating a September 1974, and February, 1975)