Cruising Ireland’s Heartland
Explore the Heartland of Ireland with Joseph Rosendo as he cruises the Shannon River from Enniskillen in Northern Ireland to Portumna in the Republic of Ireland. Joseph learns how the river is the bond that ties the two lands together and brings people from all over the world to explore its shores and celebrate Irish culture, art, food, and music.
One of Joseph’s first stops is getting a haircut at Headhunters Barber Shop, which is also a railway museum. Joseph learns about how their wonderland of train paraphernalia pays tribute to the former railway employees that would come in for haircuts.
Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
Joseph learns that there are many cave systems here in Northern Ireland, like the mysterious and intricate Marble Arch Caves. He marvels at the unique limestone deposits with an expert tour guide.
Shannon Pot
Derrylahan, Ireland
The mighty Shannon River spans more than 200 miles, but it all begins with a pond tucked in the Irish heartland. Joseph decides to stop and pay homage to the Shannon Pot, traditionally considered the source to the mighty river. Rituals and ceremonies continue at this folklore-rich place today.
Strokestown, Ireland
In this museum at Strokestown Park, Joseph explores harrowing stories of the Great Hunger. He learns about the unimaginable suffering of starvation, along with mass evictions by landlords that only worsened the tragedy. Joseph traces the National Famine Way, where famine emigrants would walk along the Shannon River.
Athlone, Ireland
Joseph visits the museum at Athone Castle, which follows the history of Ireland, starting with the Stone Age. Joseph also learns about the castle’s role in great sieges, historic battles, and religious clashes.
Joseph stops by the oldest bar in all of Ireland, which dates back to 900 AD. He learns that the bar’s establishment is closely tied to the founding of the town itself. Joseph enjoys a drink in the ever-buzzing ambiance of this thousand-year-old bar.
Athlone, Ireland
Athlone, Ireland
Joseph discovers one of Athlone’s modern jewels, the Michelin-recognized Thyme Restaurant. Joseph speaks with the head chef about their contemporary take on classic Irish staples.
Shannonbridge, Athlone, Ireland
The 5th century brought Christianity to Ireland, and with it, the founding of places like the Clonmacnoise Monastery. Joseph visits this place of worship just off the banks of the Shannon River. This well-preserved monastery includes remarkable surviving stoneworks, like the Cross of the Scriptures.
Athlone, Ireland
Joseph learns about the ethereal sculptures and jewelry fashioned from bog oak by Eibhlín Ní Chongháile at her studio. Together, they shave down a piece of bog wood, which was preserved for no less than five thousand years in the unique ecosystem of the Irish bogs.
Underwriters
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