ABSTRACT
The Shannon River (Σηνoσ-Senos) features on Ptolemy’s map of Ireland (c. 150 A.D.), which also locates a tribe near Limerick, the Gangani, not subsequently known. The later settlement developed on King’s Island-then known as Inis Sibtond-the Érainn dynasty having a branch known as Érainn of Inis Sibtond, who may have controlled it about the beginning of the historical period. The battle at Luimnech (c. 575 A.D.) may refer to a location in Connacht, the earliest references to the northMunster Luimnech occuring in a law tract (c. 700 A.D.), where the estuary itself is intended; also, an early saint’s life speaks of an island “in that sea called Luimnech,” and a ninth-century tale mentions Loch Luimnig (loch here meaning “estuary”).
