Dan McCarthy: Hidden history of St Thomas's Island

Now privately owned, the island has an intriguing past

St Thomas's Island, on the River Shannon, Co Clare. Picture: Dan MacCarthy

As the River Shannon spreads its wings and becomes an estuary it scatters several islands along its banks: Sod Island, Waller’s Island, Saint’s Island and several others. There were islands that once existed but no longer do including Dernish and Piggott’s Island. Further upstream there are many islands where the Shannon courses through Lough Derg. In between, the lough and the estuary are several more. The largest of these is St Thomas’s Island where the river turns northwards at Corbally before making a U-turn and heading southwards.

This riverine island is very flat as is to be expected as when a river reaches the sea it deposits its load. It is privately owned and grazed by a rag of colts which imperiously guards the banks. At first sight there is
nothing to behold, but a profusion of dark ivy gives the game away. Buried beneath are the walls of a former residence.