Shannon Callows

The Shannon Callows (Irish: Caladh na Sionainne) are areas of flat land along the shores of the River Shannon. These areas lie between Athlone, where the river flows out of Lough Ree, and Portumna, where it enters Lough Derg, in central Ireland. The shallow grade of the river here results in occasional flooding of the Callows.

Protection

The Callows are a classified as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The Irish Wildlife Trust has a reserve on Bullock Island. Protection of the Callows is particularly important due to the many species of birds occurring on the Callows. Recorded are, amongst others, black-tailed godwit, corncrake, curlew, golden plover, lapwing, mute swan, redshank, sandpiper, whooper swan and wigeon. Mammals recorded include American mink, fox and otter. Grazing of cattle keeps alder and willow from spreading. Sections of Callow at higher elevation and therefore less prone to flooding have a greater diversity of plants, in particular clover, creeping buttercup, cuckoo flower, marsh bedstraw, marsh marigold, meadow grass, meadowsweet, sedge and water mint.