Captain Spencer Vansittart, who recently passed away at his residence, Coolbawn, Castleconnell, County Limerick, was renowned as perhaps the most prominent fisherman along the Shannon River for many years. Having served in the Crimea with the 1st Royal Scots Regiment, he settled in Coolbawn and committed himself to improving the angling potential of the river.

Captain Vansittart achieved remarkable angling accomplishments, such as in 1866, when he caught 750 fish on the Coonas water using his own rod. Another impressive feat occurred in 1884 when he caught 106 fish, weighing a combined total of one ton, on Hermitage between February 1st and May 30th.

Dundee Evening Telegraph – Thursday 05 June 1902