Athlone

Athlone is a town in Ireland, sitting on the border between County Roscommon and County Westmeath. It is found along the River Shannon, close to the southern edge of Lough Ree. With a population of 22,869 people as counted in 2022, it is the second largest town in the Midlands Region.

Most of Athlone sits on the east side of the river, in a place called a townland that shares its name. However, some parts of the town are on the west side of the river, which officially belongs to County Westmeath due to an old law called the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898.

Athlone is about 100 kilometers west of Dublin and is close to what is considered the geographical centre of Ireland. The town's Irish name, Baile Átha Luain, means "The town of Luan's ford".

History

Main article: History of Athlone

Athlone has a rich and important history. The town is centered around Athlone Castle, located on the western bank of the River Shannon. The river ford near Athlone was very important because the river was hard to cross elsewhere nearby. In 1001, a famous Irish king named Brian Bóru sailed up the river to meet another king in Athlone.

A bridge was built across the river in the 1100s, and a fort was built to protect it. Over time, the fort was attacked and rebuilt many times. In the late 1600s, during a big war, Athlone was a key place that helped Irish forces defend their land. However, after a hard battle in 1691, the town was taken by forces from another country.

After this, Athlone continued to grow and play an important role in Ireland’s history.

Location and access

Athlone is a town in Ireland, split by the River Shannon between two counties: County Roscommon and County Westmeath. The part east of the river is in Westmeath, while some areas west of the river belong to Roscommon, though they are still considered part of Westmeath to keep the town connected.

The town is a popular stop for boats on the River Shannon, with Lough Ree nearby. A lock helps boats pass through Athlone. The town has a railway station with services to cities like Dublin, Galway, and Kildare. Bus services used to run regularly, but some were stopped, and now private companies provide buses to places such as Dublin, Galway, and Limerick. The town is also connected by roads, including the N6 dual carriageway, which links to Galway and Dublin.

Administration

Athlone received special rights from James I in 1607, allowing it to send representatives to the government. Later, its representation changed as laws were updated. Over time, the way the town was managed also changed, with new groups taking over responsibilities.

Recently, there have been ideas about Athlone becoming a larger city. Some people believe that with growth and new developments, Athlone could be known as a city in the future.

Culture

Athlone has many places to enjoy the arts. You can visit the Dean Crowe Theatre & Arts Centre and the Little Theatre for shows and performances.

Every year, Athlone hosts the RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival. This festival brings together drama groups from all over Ireland. There are also fun "fringe" events like street theatre, art exhibitions, and special activities for young people.

The town also holds the Athlone River Festival, celebrating its connection to the River Shannon. This festival took place in 2019, again in August 2024, and will return for the August Bank Holiday weekend in 2025.

Other yearly events include the Athlone Literary Festival, which started in 1999 to honor the life and work of John Broderick and now includes many speakers and discussions.

Athlone is also home to the famous singer John McCormack, and the Athlone School of Music, opened in 2013, helps young people learn and enjoy music.

Artists can work and create in the Abbey Road Artists' Studios, which opened in 2011. These studios offer space for local and visiting artists and host community events, exhibitions, and workshops together with the Luan Art Gallery.

Literature

The famous American writer James M. Cain mentioned Athlone in his 1937 book, Serenade. In the story, two characters talk about the famous singer John McCormack. One says McCormack is from Dublin, but the other corrects him, saying McCormack is actually from Athlone. They discuss how the people in Athlone speak a special way that makes McCormack’s singing unique.

The Irish poet Aubrey Thomas de Vere wrote a poem called The Ballad of Athlone. The poem tells about an event that happened during the siege in 1691.

Amenities

Athlone is a popular shopping spot in the Midlands region of Ireland. The town center stretches from Church Street in the west to Seán Costello Street in the east. In the middle is the Athlone Town Centre, a shopping area built in 2007 with 54 shops, cafés, and a four-star hotel. Another shopping place, the Golden Island Shopping Centre, opened in 1997 and is also in the town center.

There is a big sports center called Athlone Regional Sports Centre on the edge of town. It was built in 2002 and has a swimming pool, a gym, and AstroTurf pitches. You can get there by taking TFI bus route A2. Athlone has many hotels, including big names like Radisson Blu and Sheraton, as well as some local hotels too.

Places of interest

The promenade along the River Shannon is a favorite spot for people who enjoy fishing, watching birds, and swimming. You can reach the lakeshore from Coosan Point and Hodson Bay.

Athlone Castle is open to visitors as a museum, and there is a tourist office on Church Street. Sean's Bar, found on the west side of the river, holds a record as the oldest pub in Ireland.

The Luan Gallery opened in 2012. It is the first modern art gallery built just for the Midlands area. Designed by Keith Williams, who also designed the Athlone Civic Centre, the gallery opened with an exhibition from the Irish Museum of Modern Art.

Burgess Park is located near the center of town, right by the River Shannon. Other places to visit nearby include Glendeer Open Farm and the Viking Cruise of the Shannon. Baysports, a center for boat training and water sports with the world's largest floating inflatable water slide, is situated on the outskirts of town at Hodson Bay.

Public art

Examples of public art and sculptures in Athlone include the IRA Memorial, placed near the corner of Church Street and Custume Place in the early 1950s. It honors the Athlone Brigade of the Irish Republican Army who took part in the Irish War of Independence (1919–1921) and the Irish Civil War (1922–1923). The limestone statue shows a man dressed in a uniform from that time, made by sculptor Desmond Broe.

Also on Custume Place stands a sculpture called the "Mask of the Shannon," put up in 2020. On St. Mary's Square, a statue unveiled in 2012 shows appreciation for the Marist Brothers and their impact on the town.

Greenway

The Old Rail Trail greenway stretches 42 kilometres from Athlone to Mullingar, following an old railway line. It is part of the larger Dublin–Galway Greenway plan. A new bridge for cyclists and walkers over the River Shannon was built next to the Luan Gallery and opened in August 2023.

Education and industry

Athlone has many important jobs and places for learning. Big companies like Alkermes, Bioclin Laboratories, and Ericsson work there. The town is also home to important government offices such as the Department of Education and Revenue Commissioners.

The Athlone Institute of Technology is a big school that is part of the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest. It has many modern buildings and works with universities in Brazil, China, Saudi Arabia, India, and the United States. There are also four main secondary schools in the area.

Broadcasting

Between 1931 and 1975, the main place for Irish radio was at Moydrum, Athlone. The station was first called "2RN" and later "Radio Athlone." It could be heard all over Europe and even as far as Moscow.

The station started with a power of 60,000 watts and later increased to 100,000 watts. In the late 1970s, it returned with a new frequency for "Radio 2," which later became RTÉ 2fm. Today, RTÉ's Midlands studios are in Athlone, and the local radio station is Midlands 103. Many also listen to the Shannonside station.

A new radio station, i102-104FM, started in 2008 for people aged 15 to 34 in the Midlands and Northeast. The Athlone Community Taskforce and members of RosFM began broadcasting as Athlone Community Radio on March 15, 2008. They got a 10-year licence in 2011 and now broadcast on 88.4 FM.

Print

Athlone has local newspapers such as the Westmeath Independent, located on Sean Costello Street. This newspaper was started in 1846. There is also a paper called the Athlone Topic.

Sport

Athlone is a great place for sports! The town has many teams and venues where people can play and watch games.

Athlone Town Football Club plays at Athlone Town Stadium, which can hold up to 5,000 people. They have won important championships in the past.

The Athlone IT International Arena, opened in 2013, is a big indoor space for athletics and other events. It covers almost 10,000 square metres.

Athlone has also hosted big events like the European Triathlon Championships, where athletes from all over the world compete.

The town has several Gaelic football teams and a rugby club, Buccaneers RFC, which plays at Dubarry Park. There are also golf courses nearby for those who enjoy the game.

Notable people

Athlone has been home to many interesting people throughout history. Some of these include:

• The Earls of Athlone
• Pat Barlow (1914–1986), a professional footballer
• Robbie Benson (born 1992), a professional footballer
• Paul Brock (born 1989), an accordion player
• John Broderick (1924–1989), a writer of novels
• James J. Browne, former president of the National University of Ireland, Galway (2008–2018)
• Jack Carty (born 1992), a rugby player for Connacht and Ireland
• John Crowe (died 1955), a priest in St. Peter's parish on the Roscommon side of Athlone
• Michael Joseph Curley (1879–1947), a Catholic Archbishop and educator
• Stephen Donohoe (born 1984), a jockey and sailor
• Thomas Duffy (1806–1868), who received the Victoria Cross
• Lisa Dwan (born 1977), an actress
• Jimmy Elliott (1838–1883), an Irish-American boxing champion from 1865 to 1868
• Thomas Flynn (1842–1892), who received the Victoria Cross
• John Ellard Gore (1845–1910), an astronomer and founding member of the British Astronomical Association
• Robbie Henshaw (born 1993), an Irish rugby player
• Anthony Kelly (born 1957), a scientist and advisor to the UK government
• Henry Kelly (1946–2025), a journalist and television presenter who grew up in Athlone
• Ralph Kenna (1964–2023), a physicist born in Athlone
• Declan Lynch (born 1961), a writer of novels and plays
• David Madigan (born 1962), a statistician
• John McCormack (1884–1945), a famous singer known for his beautiful voice, called a tenor
• Nicky McFadden (1962–2014), a member of the Irish parliament, called a Teachta Dála
• Seán McLoughlin (born 1990), a YouTube game commentator known as Jacksepticeye
• T. P. O'Connor (1848–1929), a journalist and Member of Parliament
• Caroline O'Donnell (born 1974), an architect and author
• Feargal O'Rourke (born 1964), an accountant known for his work in taxation
• Mary O'Rourke (1937–2024), a politician who held many important roles and also wrote books
• Richard Rothwell (1800–1868), a painter known for his portraits and scenes from everyday life
• Marcus Seoige (born 1976), an actor
• Brendan Shine (born 1947), a singer of folk and country music
• George Thomas Stokes (1843–1898), a historian who wrote about the church

International relations

Athlone has special friendships with cities in other countries. It is a sister city to Athlone in Victoria, Australia, and to Providence in Rhode Island, United States. It is also a twin town with Chateaubriant in France.