The legend has it that Síonnan, the daughter of Lodan, one of the sons of king Lír, came to this pool in search of the Great Salmon of Wisdom. But the fish got angry at the sight of the girl and caused the pool to overflow and Síonnan drowned in its waters.
The pool took the name of the girl and the river still has this name today.
It is believed that the pool, due to its circular form, could have had cultural and religious importnace during Celtic times.
The pool measures 16 metres of diameter and is likewise deep, its water comes from the bottom, supplied by several underground streams, the farthest coming from a spring in the Cuilcagh mountain, in county Fermanagh, 10 km east from here. From this pool a narrow stream leaves and it'll become the longest and most important river of Ireland, flowing to the Atlantic Ocean after 386 kilometres.
The Shannon Pot is well signposted and has a large car park. From the car park there is a 380 metres long path, sadly covered with sheep dirt.
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