As part of National Heritage Week, which takes place from 15 – 23 August, Shannon Archaeological and Historical Society and Dúchas na Sionna are organising a history walk. The walk starts at 2pm at SkyCourt car park ( beside Lidl) and will continue via Slí na Mara to conclude at the Hastings Farmhouse site.  

The walk will include short talks on a range of subjects, including the landscape of the area before Shannon Town was built, the people who lived in the now-disappeared farmhouses along the way and changing local landownership through the past five centuries.

On reaching Hastings Farmhouse, which is situated at the end of Slí na Mara, walkers will hear about the history of the house, and in particular, the story of the Capture of Brigadier General Lucas during the War of Independence. Lucas was held in captivity for over a month by the IRA, and was accommodated in Hastings house for a few nights, one hundred years ago.

Plans to fully restore the house and the barn, and to use the buildings as a multi-purpose local community asset will also be outlined.

The house was a cob or mud building and was in very good condition until it was burnt in the 1970s. The reconstruction will be carried out using authentic materials and traditional building techniques, and will encompass training courses by accredited training specialists.

Dúchas na Sionna is currently engaged in a fundraising campaign to cover the initial works and have set up a a Go Fund Me page: www.gofundme.com/f/hastings-farmhouse-restoration

Hastings Farmhouse c. 1968: Photo courtesy Shannon Development Photographic Archive

Shannon Chamber encourages member companies, their families and friends, and residents of Shannon to participate in what promises to be a most interesting walk.

Before joining the walk, we would encourage you to view the newly produced video: A Farmhouse in Shannon and the War of Independence, which can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL5sL3BcDqE&t=166s