Editing River Shannon (section)

===Ardnacrusha and passenger use===
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[[File:Shannon at Limerick.jpg|thumb|right|River Shannon at [[Limerick]], where it flows into the [[Shannon Estuary]]]]
One of the first projects of the [[Irish Free State]] in the 1920s was the [[Shannon hydroelectric scheme]] which established the Ardnacrusha [[power station]] on the lower Shannon above Limerick. The old Killaloe to Limerick canal with its five locks was abandoned and the head race constructed from Lough Derg also served for navigation. A double lock was provided at the dam.

In the 1950s traffic began to fall and low fixed bridges would have replaced opening bridges but for the actions of the [[Inland Waterways Association of Ireland]] which persuaded the [[Tánaiste]] to encourage passenger launches, which kept the bridges high enough for navigation. Since then the leisure trade has steadily increased, becoming a great success story.