Secret Places of the Shannon

by John M. Feehan

Feehan cruised two hundred miles of the River Shannon, from Killaloe to Lough Key, calling at all the little country harbours along the way. Again we meet a variety of strange and unusual a tramp of the old school, a theologically-minded pick-pocket, a literary courtesan, a bizarre corpse-washer with an eye for the artistic, a specialist in the romantic moods of frogs, snails and hedgehogs. In The Secret Places of the Shannon, with a sensitive and rare touch, he describes those precious moments of time when earth and sky and water are blended into flashes of unforgettable loveliness. He sees the pain and the sorrow of human suffering as well as rollicking laughter of human joy. Dominating all of this is the majestic Shannon with a thousand years of history around every bend.

180 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Donal]

Having visited the Burren on many occasions, this book for me is a wonderful read. The author, whom I know personally, brings to the text his own intimate knowledge of the area and his scholarship in the areas of botany and geology. It was a pleasure in recent years to have walked the Burren with him on field trips. There is scarcely a stone that for him does not carry a story. As he often says, wearing his geologist's hat, "the stones speak". His reading in theology and philosophy provides another layer of interpretation that is often inspiring.

This book is from 1987 and reflects less the evolution of the author's experience of the Burren since then. It is informative and many of the references are familiar to Irish readers. It is less focused on spiritual reflection than his later books, but the germ is there. His reflection on the original inspiration behind the monastic sites that dot the Burren is unparalleled.

The focus of his account is the area around Carron, the heart of the Burren, often neglected by the tour buses and casual visitors. For those who have the time, a few days spent in that area with John's book in hand would be well rewarded by the insights gained. It is difficult to visit the area on one's own without hearing John's voice and his insistence on letting 'the stones speak'. The sites themselves tell their own stories. John's voice provides added resonance, colour and depth.

Definitely a book to carry around in the rucksack on the next visit to the Burren.

[Althea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked up for a buck at a library sale, found for my trip to Galway, just the thing, great companion.

[Faranae · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was looking for archaeological and historical knowledge of the Burren to guide my hillwalking. This isn't it. Author denigrates any scientists he can name the profession of, makes wild claims about "studies" with no citations, mostly to back up new age nonsense ("pyramid power" etc) or the kinds of tall tales you can hear over a pint. At first I thought it was tongue-in-cheek, but one nasty comment about archaeologists too many had me tossing this aside.

[Philip Chaston · Rating 3 out of 5]

I realised that Innerwee, Testicle Mickey and Sheila of the Breasts promised a special journey!

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really, really wanted to like this book. I spent a too short day in The Burren and I do agree that is wonderfully magical. This book did give some background and information about some lovely places I'd like to visit. However, there was quite a bit too much of the author going off on hateful rants about various things (nuns, tourists, archeologists, anthropologists). For instance, in the forward/prologue he spends a few paragraphs going off about a nun who wouldn't let him take his dog into a conference center in The Burren. I don't necessarily mind the rants about the British b/c they were horrible to the Irish and there is no reason to sugar coat it (although, I don't think it is productive to hateful about it either). I think I'll keep looking for other books that are more informative about The Burren and less of an author taking an opportunity to chastise and castigate people he doesn't like or agree with. It just read like more of a personal rant.

[Susana Duarte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical book, but even more magical the place. The Burren has an unmatched energy and roughness like no other place I've been.