Carrick-on-Shannon

Carrick-on-Shannon grew up around the river that still plays an important role in the town's newfound confidence. Its original Irish name, Cora Droma Rúisc, means "the stony ford of the ridge in the marsh." The prosperous town with a population of 3,500 that people visit today takes pride in its past and is full of architectural surprises. In the first decade of the 21st century many old buildings were given life again, in some cases being turned into cultural or arts centers, offices, or restaurants. Bistro bars and gastropubs, stylish hotels and delis, Internet cafés and boutiques sit cheek by jowl with contemporary restaurants. The town has lined up a program of events for 2013 to celebrate its 400th anniversary. In 1613 King James I granted the town a Royal Charter by which it became a Royal Borough with a corporation made up of a Provost, Burgesses, and Commonalty. It had the right to send two members to the Irish Parliament and continued to do so up to the Act of Union in 1800 when the Parliament voted away its own existence. Details of the 2013 events are on the website: www.carrickonshannon400.ie