Rethinking How We See, Use, and Protect Our Most Vital Resource: An Overview of the Social, Cultural and Ecomedia Representation of the Shannon
Year: 2026
Type: book-chapter
Abstract: This chapter will begin with a short geographical history of the river to help situate its importance, before setting out how it feeds into the growth of eco-tourism in Ireland and promoting the image of a green sustainable island for visitors across the world. While tourism tends to focus on the majestic coastline, of late the ‘hidden heartlands’, framed by the river Shannon, has come into greater prominence. To anchor this often romantic perception of nature and habitat, I will use oral history interviews with farmers who work adjacent to the river, to highlight how these stewards of the land are closely connected with the river since time immemorial. This snapshot of opinions speaks to many of the issues that affect the overall environmental sustainability of the Shannon. The chapter will conclude with an eco-reading of a number of river documentaries that encourage audiences as eco-citizens in becoming more sensitive to the need for greater environmental conservation and harmony with the flora and fauna of the countryside.
Source: Springer water
Author: Pat Brereton
Institution: Dublin City University
Language: English
Subfield: Literature and Literary Theory
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7171744667