AthloneAthlone
Athlone is centrally located on a convenient crossing point on the river
Shannon. It is the gateway to Ireland West and is the capital of the Irish
Midlands. The
town (population 25,000) straddles two provinces (Leinster and Connaught);
two counties (Westmeath and Roscommon) and two Dioceses (Clonmacnoise and Elphin).
There has been a river crossing place at Athlone since before recorded
history. The town's name in Irish means Ford of Luain - Ath Luain. The town sits
on both river banks. Historically and today the Leinster town is the largest,
containing as it does the majority of residential, manufacturing and service
zones.
The Connaught town is the site for Adamson's Castle, first built in King John's time, and the Custume Military Barracks, headquarters for the Western Command. Elan Corporation, the giant multinational health Corporation and the only Irish company to have a Wall Street Stock exchange quotation, has its headquarters on the western approach to Athlone.
Today, Athlone and its lakeshore hinterland enjoys a tourism renaissance which is centered on a close interaction between town, river and lake (Lough Ree). The town is a berthage place for 2 cruiser companies and is considered by European fishermen to be the coarse fishing capital of Ireland.
Athlone has always benefited from its halfway position on Ireland's
busy East West routeway. Dublin to Galway. The new relief and the latest
Bridge spanning the river - The Shannon Way have relieved traffic gridlock and
has transformed Athlone to the retail and sevice capital of the Irish
Midlands.Within short driving distance from Athlone are Goldsmith Country,
Clonmacnoise monastic site, and Lough Ree.
Try linking to these sites for more information about Athlone