Swimming Upstream

One man's fight to save the Atlantic wild salmon

Born to a small fishing community on the Shannon, Patsy Peril grew up with a traditional gandelow boat. Ardnacrusha, the enormous hydro-electric station, threatens the river's wildlife. It is Patsy's mission to save the Shannon's wild salmon. 

‘Unlike me, the Atlantic wild salmon does not have a voice, so it cannot tell the story of why and how it has been driven to the point of extinction.’

Once, the River Shannon was teeming with wild salmon swimming upstream. But when the enormous hydro-electric station at Ardnacrusha was built in 1929, what began as the Free State’s crowning achievement would have a devastating impact on the environment.

In this evocative and thought-provoking memoir, Patsy Peril recalls a life deeply entwined with Irish wildlife and embedded in the history of modern Ireland. From a childhood spent on the water to a national conservation campaign, Patsy has a lifetime of knowledge to share about the wild Atlantic salmon – and a plan to save it.

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