Figure 1.

Locations of pike sampling sites in Ireland and Europe. The Shannon, Derg, Inny, Sheelin and Scur are all directly part of the Shannon system. Dromore River and Lough Bane are a part of the Erne system, which connects to the Shannon via the Shannon-Erne waterway (16 locks) at Upper Lough Erne in County Fermanagh. The Grand Canal connects the River Liffey in Dublin to the River Shannon at Shannon Harbour, Co. Offaly, via 44 locks, and connects with the River Barrow via the Barrowline Canal (9 locks). The Royal Canal also connects Dublin’s River Liffey with the Shannon, at the more northerly Abbeyshrule in County Longford, meeting the River Deel along its way.