Athlone, Co. Westmeath

Athlone (from the Irish: Baile Átha Luain meaning "town of the Ford of the Moon") lies on the River Shannon close to the geographic centre of Ireland in County Westmeath.

This bustling, youthful centre town of Ireland has much of historical interest - and, although other towns along the mighty Shannon will no doubt be keen to mount a challenge, Athlone is presently the culinary capital of the inland waterways, with a cluster of good eating places in the town itself and surrounding area.

At the heart of Athlone, both geographically and historically, is the castle. The ford of Athlone was strategically important, as south of Athlone the Shannon is impassable until Clonmacnoise (where the Esker Riada meets the Shannon), and north is Lough Ree.

The town is a popular retail area with quite a selection of shops and a shopping centre. The area is also popular with people stopping by on river cruise boats, swimmers, anglers, bird watchers and sailors. Other popular attractions for visitors are the award winning Glendeer Open Farm and the Viking Cruise of the Shannon. The town's tourist office is located at Athlone Castle, in the town centre.

Gardens

Castlecoote House  - County Roscommon
Castlecoote House & Gardens
Castlecoote, Co. Roscommon
This fine Georgian residence overlooking the beautiful River Suck was built within the enclosure of a medieval castle between 1690 and 1720, and is of historic interest - not least as the birthplace of the Gunning sisters, who became the Duchess ...

Golf

Esker Hills Golf Club - Tullamore County Offaly Ireland
Esker Hills Golf Club
Tullamore, Co. Offaly
Course Type: Parkland
Esker Hills Golf Club, a Christy O' Connor Jnr designed masterpiece over 150 acres of testing terrain, is regarded as one of Ireland's leading inland golf courses. It's a challenging 18 hole par 71  championship golf course where no two hole ...

Self Catering

There is no featured selfcatering establishment in the area

What's On

Ballinasloe Farmers Market - County Galway - Fridays
Ballinasloe Farmers Market

Croffey Centre, Main Street, Ballinasloe, County Galway

Fridays 9am - 2pm

Tourist Attractions

Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre - Kenagh County Longford Ireland
Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre
Kenagh, Co. Longford
The Corlea Trackway is an Iron Age trackway, or togher, that was built across the boglands of Longford, close to the River Shannon. The Corlea Trackway is made from oak planks 3 to 3.5 metres long and around 15 centimetres thick laid on rails aro ...

Wedding Venues

Wedding
Castlecoote House
Castlecoote, Co. Roscommon
This fine Georgian residence overlooking the beautiful River Suck was built within the enclosure of a medieval castle between 1690 and 1720 and now offers country house accommodation and makes a wonderful exclusive location for wedding venues. Wi ...
  • By Distance
  • By Category

There are currently no comments

Leave a comment

You must be logged in to leave a comment
Not a member? Register for your free membership now!
Or leave a comment by logging in with: