Ireland's youngest town tells a very different heritage story: the first transatlantic airport, the invention of duty-free shopping in 1947, the world's first free-trade zone, and a planned new town built from scratch on reclaimed marshland from 1960 — with one lone 16th-century tower house as the sole reminder of what stood here before the runways. Looking for things to do in Shannon? Start here — no car, no ticket, no booking.
Medieval & CastlesEcclesiasticalRevolutionary & Military
Opens the free interactive app — point your phone at each stop and hear it speak, in 12 languages.
Stops on This Trail
Shannon Airport & the Birthplace of Duty-Free
Shannon Free Zone
Drumgeely Hill — Ireland's First New-Town Housing
Smithstown Towerhouse
Shannon Town Centre — Birth of a Planned Town
For Schools
This trail is also available as a free printable classroom worksheet or full trail booklet — no site visit required. See how Classroom Prep Mode works →