Shannavara is one of those many low Connemara hills that offer great views. If visited from the south the hill is a steep pull up and it feels like you're as far from civilisation as anyone has ever been but from the north it's less of an effort to ascend (assuming you get permission from this side!) and you will hear plenty of traffic from the N59 to remind you that it's not always easy to escape reality!
S. Park at L9271638708 A where there is room for two cars. Follow the wide track north as it hugs Lough Inveragleragh narrowing thereafter to a somewhat more intermittent trail, although you will always be able to make out the greenish scar of the next part of the trail further along. It can be very wet in places esp. when there are a lot of post-deluge streams running off the western flanks of Knockadav. The trail eventually swings ENE when it meets a small stream at L93096 42620 B. Cross the stream and ascend any way you chose. It's steep but a lot easier to ascend than descend! Allow 2 hrs to the top. Return the same way or follow track/3133 around to Knockadav for a less steep descent off Shannavara.
N. As of 2018 there are access issues from the north. The two cul de sacs that give access to the north and northeast of the hill are both resident to farmers who will more than likely send you packing but, if you have the time and energy, it's no harm in asking...just let us know how you get on if you do! Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/888/comment/5647/

After cycling the 75 mile Tour De Lough Corrib what do you do but bag some nearby hills?
Followed bryanmccabe's excellent directions and made it to the top in slightly damper conditions which hindered the fine views.
Rather boggy climb but up and down in hour and a half as was getting cold and wet. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/888/comment/6358/

I accessed this hill from the south a few years back (around sept 2017) having done a car split earlier in the day. We met the farmer mentioned elsewhere and got a bit of a mouthful from him on access issues and the general blot on the landscape that are hillwalkers! So, it's probably best to follow Bryan's route from L93083 45004 D or to double back on the route from the south. That said, the farmer was long in the tooth and may either relent in his dotage or forget to proscribe access in his will! Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/888/comment/21481/

Having previously tried to access this hill from North side from the start point mentioned by bryanmccabe, I tried to approach it from the North again from the point mentioned by sandman and again met another farmer who told me the route up this way is all fences with no gates and he would prefer if I didn't go this way. So there was no other option but to approach this hill from the South side at the start point mentioned by sandman. This route involves following an old very faint track North past Lough Ivernagleragh for about 5km, before ascending the hill. Accessing this hill from the South turns a potential 4/5 kilometer hike into a 12 kilometer hike. The old track is flooded in places even so only try this after a period of good weather. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/888/comment/20107/