Athlone
River Shannon Town At The Centre Of Ireland With Athlone Castle'S Visitor Centre And Sean'S Bar, Which Claims To Be Ireland'S Oldest Pub · Athlone, Westmeath
Athlone is the town at the middle of Ireland, where the main road and railway from Dublin to Galway cross the River Shannon. For centuries whoever held its bridge held the way west, and the stone Athlone Castle on the west bank, begun around 1210 for King John, saw two famous sieges in 1690 and 1691. Today the castle holds an interactive visitor centre on those sieges and the town's story, and beside it Sean's Bar claims to be the oldest pub in Ireland, said to date back to about 900 AD - a claim that is enjoyed and argued over in equal measure. Around them the west bank is a small quarter of narrow streets, pubs and cafes, with the twin-towered church of Saints Peter and Paul above the river. Athlone is also a base for river cruises to Lough Ree, the Old Rail Trail greenway to Mullingar and a short drive to Clonmacnoise. The honest caveat: this is a pleasant, busy midlands town and a handy stop between Dublin and the west, not a destination for days on its own; one night or an afternoon suits most visitors.
Athlone town on the River Shannon, County Westmeath: Athlone Castle and Sean's Bar on the west bank, the town centre on the east, Athlone, Westmeath, Ireland
The town and riverside can be walked at any time. Athlone Castle's visitor centre opens most of the year, roughly from mid-morning to late afternoon, with longer summer hours and some closed days in winter (confirm current days and hours). Sean's Bar keeps normal pub hours and often has music in the evenings (confirm). Lough Ree boat cruises run roughly spring to autumn and should be booked ahead in summer (confirm). Athlone station is on the Dublin-Galway and Westport lines, about 1.5 hours from Dublin Heuston; Bus Eireann and Expressway coaches stop in the town, and the M6 passes by.