Travel guide to Athlone
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Athlone
Athlone is a lively and pleasant suburb situated in the centre of Ireland and is the biggest town lying on the banks of river Shannon and to the extreme south of Lough Ree. Athlone is located at the border of Roscommon and Westmeath. It has a populace of about 35,000 people living in a 3 miles radius from the town.
At Luan’ is the Irish word for Athlone meaning the ford of Luan and is a town that has a steep history. Athlone owes its existence to its location as the main crossing point of the River Shannon linking the east and west of Ireland. In the 12th century a bridge was constructed across the river and to a fortification was built to protect but they were both occasionally under attack. The history of Athlone has a lot to do with its castles and bridges and also due to its great significance to the military in the early times. It most well-known siege was in 1691 by the Williamite Army.
Tourists, both local and international, are assured of a pleasant and genuine welcome and with a lot to choose from. The township can be accessed without difficulty by rail and through the highway with regular bus and rail schedules and by using www.anycarhire.com you can arrange for your transportation while in Athlone. The M6 motorway that has been recently completed connects Athlone to Galway and Dublin and thus reduces the travel costs and time spent traveling significantly.
The urban area is well-known for its castles and fortifications some of them being the Pordlick Castle, Athlone Castle and the Moydrun Castle however a number of them are in a wreck and are under renovation. Some other well-liked attractions sites are like the Glendeer open farm and the cruise of Shannon as well as the promenade for the anglers. The town has three theaters and boasts of a rich culture such as the drama festival held annually that gathers nine drama groups from Ireland. Lough Ree Yatch club is another attraction site for any tourist. Seans Bar listed as the oldest bar in Europe the Guinness Book of Record is situated on the west of the river Shannon.
