Islands of Ireland: Trummera Big is just about able to keep its head above water

This small piece of gravel in the Shannon allows the visitor to simply be

The island of Trummera Big in the Shannon Estuary beside Aughinish Alumina. Picture: Dan MacCarthy

The Aughinish alumina plant looks like a concept city with its turrets, its hulking mass and slender towers. The Co Limerick bauxite refinery is located on the former island of Aughinish in between Poulaweala Creek and Robertsown River, but more notably, on the banks of the River Shannon. There is a continuous hiss emanating from the plant as if it were on the verge of saying something.

The Shannon hinterland has several reclaimed islands around here including Island MacTeige, Aughinish Island and White Island further up the road to Limerick City. The alumina plant stretches in to the Shannon itself by means of a bridge to a marine terminal. And beside this lies the island of Trummera Big and its kid brother Trummera Little.