Athlone

Castelo de Athlone Irlanda - Athlone Castle

Athlone (Irish: Baile Átha Luain, "The Town of the Ford of Luain") is based in County Westmeath in Ireland's East Coast and Midlands. The town is located in the southwest corner of the county. It has a population presence of 20'000. The town is actually split in two by the river Shannon. One side of it is in County Roscommon and the other is in County Westmeath. The right bank of the river is the province of Leinster. The left bank of the river is in the province of Connacht. The Shannon is the biggest and longest river in Ireland.

Introduction

Athlone is the nearest urban centre to the geographical centre of Ireland. It is no more than five hours trip from any point on the island. This being so makes Athlone a popular venue for conferences. Thankfully with hotels like the Prince of Wales, Hodson Bay, Sheraton and Radisson among others it is well equipped to play host. It is located 80 miles west of Dublin and 55 miles east of Galway. The M6 connecting Dublin with Galway skirts around the edge of the town via the bypass. The town is semicircular in shape with the river neatly dividing it in two halves. Athlone is 5.5 miles in width and 2.5 miles in depth. Unfortunately Athlone is not a planned town unlike nearby Longford, Birr or Ballinasloe. Thit is reflected in the higgeldy piggeldy layout of the original streets. What small semblance of planning there is, is centered on the streets adjacent to the Castle on the left bank. The old Dublin to Galway road travels through the length of the town from east to west. The other primary streets feeding into the town come from Roscommon and Cavan. The Roscommon side of the town has much more new housing development than the Westmeath side. Indeed the Monksland area of Athlone, in County Roscommon is the largest urban area in that county. To the north of the town is Lough Ree. To the south, ten miles away is the ancient monastic site of Clonmacnoise located by the river Shannon. Athlone's strategic location may account for the presence of the large Custume Barracks. Thit is located on the West side of the Shannon. It is a large employer in the town. Athlone is predominately a blue collar town. Manufacturing giants Elan and Ericsson have plants in the town. An Post has a distribution centre and a section of the Department of Education is also here. There is a third level college, Athlone Institute of Technology, located a mile east of the town centre. Athlone Town Centre, a large mixed use development opened in November 2007. It comprises shops, apartments and a Sheraton hotel It is located just off Church St. Beside the ATC is the Civic Centre for the town. It was built in 2003 and the new ATC blends in with it. To the left of the Civic Centre is the Prince of Wales Hotel, better known simply as the Prince. Beside the Prince is the old Church of Ireland. The aforementioned locations constitute the heart of the town centre. In terms of retail the east side of the river houses most places of interest. As much as Athlone has a main street it is Church St. It starts at the river and runs east to meet Dublingate Street. It used to be lined with well known national chain stores and was therefore very vibrant. Unfortunately the Golden Island Shopping centre, which opened in 1997, drew the chain stores away from Church Street. On the West side of the river there is a cluster of monuments located adjacent to each other. The symbol of Athlone is the twin towered Church of Street Peter's and Paul. Behind the church is the barracks. Opposite the church is Athlone Castle. Connaught Street on the left bank of the river used to be a thriving commercial spot and the main street on that side of the river. Sadly and there is now widespread evidence of decay and dereliction. There is a lovely apartment scheme built two years ago which only serves to highlight air of neglect around it. The streets close to the left side of river Shannon have a bohemian feel to them. They house some of the best restaurants in the town. Sean's Cafe near the Castle claims to be the oldest in Ireland. The river Shannon is the main reason for tourism in the town. The town gets its fair share of Europeans who take boats on the river either as day trips or lodging. Due to a lack of proper water defences and probably lack of dredging the town is prone to flooding. In October 2009 parts of the left bank and along the right bank at the strand were badly affected by flooding. The world famous tenor Count John McCorma ck was born in Athlone. His birthplace is currently occupied by a Chinese takeaway. You have to make due with a statue opposite the barracks.

The newly renovated Athlone Castle contains the tourist office now. The Library is located in the Civic Centre. Bistop is the nearest internet cafe to the Civic Centre. There is no general hospital in Athlone. Portiuncla hospital in Ballinasloe is 16 miles away. There is a general training located behind the Civic Centre and adjacent to the ATC. There may be left luggage facilities at the train station. There is a laundromat on John Broderick Street called Shannon Dry Cleaners opposite Dunnes Stores. There is the full spectrum of Supermarkets including Tesco, Dunnes, Lidl, Aldi, Centra, Spar etc. throughout the town. For those who need their fix of fast food there is a Burger King (Please do not support Burger King as Burger King supports Israel. Shun this restaurant group and go for altertative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned restaurant) at the Golden Island Shopping Centre and a Subway at the bridge. McDonalds is on the edge of town at the Kilmartin Retail Park. Between the river and Dunnes you will find the Allied Irish Bank, Ulster Bank and the Bank of Ireland. All three have on street ATM machines. There are two Post Office's. One is between the Civic Centre and the ATC. The other is on Pearse Street across the river. Should you need a barber there is Dec's on Lloyd's lane just off Church Street and five minutes from the Civic Offices. There are ladies hairstylists all over town. Should you need fuel for your vehicle there is Green Apple in Arcadia and Topaz on the Dublin road. In terms of vehicle parking there is parking at the Fair Green along Garden Vale, you have the two Shopping Centres and also at the Strand at the end of LLoyd's lane.

Travel to Athlone

Travel by plane to Athlone

Athlone is about 90 minutes' trip from either Dublin (IATA Flight Code: DUB), Shannon (IATA Flight Code: SNN) or Knock Airport (IATA Flight Code: NOC).

Both Citylink and Bus Éireann operate buses from Dublin Airport to Athlone on their Galway routes. The Citylink bus stops at Athlone Institute of Technology and Arcadia, which is a bus shelter about a 15-minutes walk north from the Civic Centre.

Travel by train to Athlone

Athlone is on the Dublin to Galway/Westport line. The train station is located ten minutes north of Church St.

How to travel to Athlone by car

The M6 motorway connects Athlone with both Dublin (90 minutes) and Galway (60 minutes).

Take a bus to Athlone

Athlone is serviced hourly by Bus Eireann from either Galway or Dublin during daylight hours. The bus station is beside the train station. I think there is a daily bus to Waterford, Sligo, Cork and Limerick. Within the town there is a local Bus Eireann service serving Monksland on the west side of the town.

Citylink multistop service from Galway to Dublin stops in Athlone, at the Institute of Technology, at Golden Island (town centre) and Arcadia.

Transportation in Athlone

53.4237|-7.9419 The centre of Athlone is small enough to get around on foot. There are taxi ranks at the train station and on Church St.

What to See

• Athlone Castle 53.42330,-7.94292 ☎ +353 90 6442130€8 -

  Great for history-lovers. Originally built for England's King John in 1210, it was twice besieged in the 17th century (The Siege of Athlone) before finally being captured by the Williamites. The closing decades of the seventeenth century were among the most turbulent in this country's history. It is not surprising then to realise that the most dramatic events in the history of Athlone occurred during the Williamite and Jacobite Wars.

  In 1690 the town was besieged by 10,000 Williamite troops under the command of General James Douglas. The Jacobite force present in the town, under the command of the Governor of Athlone, Colonel Richard Grace, resolutely refused to surrender. Following a week long siege the Williamites retreated.

  Athlone enjoyed a year of relative peace until June of 1691 when the town was again besieged by the Williamites. This time it was the full Williamite Army of almost 25,000 men led by the Dutch General, Godard de Ginkel which laid siege to the town. The Williamites quickly captured the Leinster town but the jacobites broke down the bridge to stem their advance. Under the command of the French genera and the Marquis de St. Ruth and they courageously resisted all attempts to repair it. A brave Sergeant of Dragoons, Custume by name, lost his life in his attempts to dislodge the vigorous repair works and by so doing became a folk hero celebrated in poetry and story. Ginkels guns, in one of the heaviest bombardments in Irish history, fired 12,000 cannonballs into the tiny Connacht town badly damaging Athlone Castle and reducing other buildings to rubble. The Williamites discovered a fording point and in a surprise attack crossed the river and captured the Castle.

• Church of Street Peter & Paul Barrack Street 53.42378,-7.94356 opposite Athlone Castle - This twin towered church, built in the 1930s to replace an older but smaller church which stood on the same site was recently cleaned up and looks very well. and is the nationally recognised symbol of Athlone.

Bronze bust of Count John McCormack. An Athlone native and famous singer and is located on the promenade in Athlone. Count John McCormack was born in Athlone on June 14, 1884. His father, Andrew McCormack had been lured to Ahlone, from Galasheils in the Scottish lowlands by the prospect of employment in Athlone Woollen Mills. In time Andrew was to become a foreman in these Mills which had a world-wide reputation for the quality of the tweeds they produced. In 1903 John won the coveted Gold medal in the tenor class of the Dublin Feis Ceoil. It was this victory which was to lead to a phenomenal singing career. In 1907 John made his operatic debut in Covent Gardens in Cavaleria Rusticana. He was made Count of the Papal Court in 1928 by Pope Pius Xl. Having conquered the operatic world John turned his attention to the concert stage where he was soon to become the most popular lyric tenor of his day. Apart from his rendition of popular Irish songs John McCormack was famous for his masterful singing of (German) lieder He made successful concert tours of America, Australia and Europe but in Ireland the highlight of his career was his singing of Panis Angelicus at the open air mass for the Eucharistic Congress in Dublin's Phoenix Park in 1932. John's colourful career spanned almost forty years and included a brief but lucrative career in Hollywood. His earnings for the film Song O'My Heart in 1930 was estimated to be in the region of $500,000 John McCormack died in Dublin on September 16, 1945 and is buried in Deans Grange Cemetery. The bronze bust of McCormack on the promenade in Athlone and the work of the Cork sculptor Seamus Murphy, was unveiled in 1970.

Architecture

The following are worth a look for those interested in architecture Church of Street Peter & Paul. opposite Athlone Castle. A monumental Catholic church with twin towers built in the 1930s replacing an older but smaller church which stood on the same site. and is the nationally recognised symbol of Athlone. Church of Ireland. located on Church St. A typical Protestant church with the unusual accompaniment of a separate tower. Dillon Shoes. on the junction of Church Street and Northgate St. It has a lovely decorative red brick front. Particularly over the doorway. Methodist Church. on Northgate Street. A quaint stone structure with twin mini spires. Gainsborough House. opposite the Methodist Church. It has a neat inset window on the second floor. Allied Irish Bank. This branch at the bridge is typical of such buildings around the nation save for the nice pedestrian bridge leading into it. Workhouses. on Northgate St. These were again typical of such buildings put up in Irish towns. A fine broad stone structure in good condition at least from the outside. Court Devenish House. located off Northgate St/Church St. The grounds are private but the roadside allows a clear view of this fine Jacobean House from the 17th century. There is also the ruins of an abbey on the grounds again visible from the roadside. Street Mary's Church. in Street Mary's Plaza, just beyond Church Street, is a fine RC parish church and the best of its kind on the east side of the town. Franciscan Friary. on Friary Lane, off Church St, is a nice replica of the older style stone churches built throughout the nation with the tower at the side of the church.

• The Athlone West Train Station located just beyond the barracks. Thit is a fine long (17 windows wide) classical stone structure which no longer operates as a train station. The current train station is on the other side of the river. When in use it was one of the finest and most imposing train stations in the nation. Garden Vale. located between the train/bus station and Church St. Thit is the best example of red/grey brick old world housing in the town. It consists of two/three storey imposing townhouses. Church of Corpus Christi. is located off Pearse Street on the west side of the river. A nice small stone parish church hidden away. - Luan Gallery. is located oppposite Street Peter's and Paul. It's a new swanky gallery in a new building which incorporates the former Father Matthew's Hall which in its day was the old library. Pearse Street. is home to a run of buildings on the right hand side as you walk up from Street Peter's and Paul. They are occupied by various state bodies and are typical of state architecture from the 1940s. They include the Post Office, Garda Station and Social Welfare Office.

• Athlone Railway Bridge - is located north of the road bridge and is visible from same. One of the finest railway bridges in the nation. This one, which was built in 1851 spans Ireland's longest river The Shannon.

• Athlone Castle - built between 1129 and 1210 located by the River Shannon. It is on the left bank of the river opposite the Church of Street Peter & Paul. It's construction is crucial to the subsequent development of the town of Athlone. Along with King John's Castle in Limerick it is one of the oldest surviving castles in Ireland. It is open for visitors.

Muslim Travel Tips

• Go golfing at the Glasson Golf & Country Club or the Mt. Temple Golf and Country Club.
• Sit on the east side of the river and enjoy a view of the Castle/Bridge and Street Peter's & Paul. A walk along the strand gives a friendly vista of the town and access to Burgess Park.
• Take a boat on the river.
• Take a drive out to the Hodson Bay which is on Lough Ree. Lovely peaceful spot with a fine hotel and golf course.
• Coosan Point located around two miles north of Athlone is a nice entry point for Lough Ree.

• Dean Crowe Theatre Chapel Street 53.42188,-7.94413 ☎ +353 90 6492129 - Situated on the west side of the town about a five minutes walk from Street Peter's and Paul. Check the Westmeath Independent newspaper for listings.

What to buy in Athlone

• Golden Island Shopping Centre Golden Island 53.4203,-7.9341 ☎ +353 90 6476760 Has the likes of Tesco, Argos, Lifestyle Sports etc. as well as Athlone's cineplex.

• Athlone Towncentre 53.42334,-7.93617 ☎ +353 90 6484387 - Features well known clothing stores such as Monday & S, River Island, H & Monday as well as Next, Easons and various eateries. It is a visually appealing and well laid out over two floors.

• McGorisk for Men 12 Church Street - ☎ +353 90 647-6688 Stockists of Hilfiger, Lacoste, Gant, State of Art, Replay, Gas, Diesel. Classy man's shop with a bridal shop upstairs.

• Allens 8 Church Street - ☎ +353 90 647-2826 Giftware, Kitchen shop and bedlinen store over two floors. Stockists of brands including Waterford Crystal, Belleek, Le Creuset, and Denby, etc.

• Church Street , Features among the aforementioned, a fine selection of independent stores not found in Shopping Centres. These include Burgess Department Store (clothing and homewares), Sheffield Jewellers, Olivia Danielle (Classy Boutique), other female clothing shops including Jezebelle, Paco, Devernois and Clara Ellen. Shoe Zone is the last national chain store left on the street.

• Wood B Designs Sean Costelloe Street - ☎ +353 90 647-7468 Stockists of quirky quality wooden handmade gifts as well as family crests.

• Burgess Church Street - one of the last department style stores left in the nation. A fine store over three floors selling mainly clothing but also bedding and kitchenware

Halal Restaurants & Food in Athlone

• Athlone Springs Hotel , - Located at Monksfield on the Tuam Road. Restaurant open for Sunday lunch and evening dinner.

• Prince of Wales Hotel , - Located in the centre of Athlone and offering breakfast, lunch and evening dinner.

• Left bank Bistro Fry Place Athlone 53.42240,-7.94235 Old Town near castle ☎ +353 90 6494446 - Delicious food at reasonable prices and excellent service.

• Kin Khao (Thai) 1 Abbey Lane 53.4222,-7.9434 ☎ +353 90 649 8805 - Authentic (Thai) cuisine that’s not watered down; an exciting cellar, a large range of craft soft drinks and award-winning and friendly service

• Thyme Restaurant Custume Place 53.42359,-7.94043 ☎ +353 090 647 8850 Opening Hours: Monday toSat 17:00-22:00 Sunday 13:00-20:00
• The Fatted Calf Church Street 53.42341,-7.93683 ☎ +353 90 6433371
• Di Bella High Street 53.42251,-7.94310 ☎ +353 90 6444830

• Harveys Cafe | Lloyds Lane - ☎ +353 90 647-4051 Good pint and staff are nice. Clients are a great laugh.

• Brownes
• Karma Nightclub | Church Street
• Kellys | Dublin Gate Street
• Lough Ree Inn | Coosan Point
• Potters Cafe | Sean Costello Street - ☎ +353 90 647-4057 A pub for all ages with a great pint and great atmosphere. Soup and sandwiches served weekdays 12:30-15:30.

• Ricks | Church Street
• Riverside Inn | Castle Street
• Sean's Cafe Main Street 53.42274,-7.94231 ☎ +353 90 649-2358 - Established in year 900 A.D. and according to Guinness World Records the oldest pub in Europe (and maybe in the world?)

• The Castle Inn Main Street 53.42272,-7.94264 ☎ +353 90 6494048
• The Prince Bar, Prince Of Wales Hotel | Church Street -

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Athlone

Athlone - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Athlone, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Athlone. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Athlone and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Athlone. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Athlone. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations in Athlone: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Athlone.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Athlone: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Athlone, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Athlone.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Athlone, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Athlone, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Athlone and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Athlone, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Athlone, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Athlone without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Athlone is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Athlone.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Athlone is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Athlone, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Athlone Media: info@ehalal.io

Ramadan in Athlone

Ramadan 2025 in Athlone

Ramadan concludes with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which may last several days, usually three in most countries.

The next Ramadan shall be from Friday, 28 February 2025 to Saturday, 29 March 2025

The next Eid al-Adha shall be on Friday, 6 June 2025

The next day of Raʾs al-Sana shall be on Thursday, 26 June 2025

The next day for Mawlid al-Nabī shall be on Monday, 16 September 2024

Muslim Friendly Hotels

Hotel

• Wineport Lodge Glasson 53.4648,-7.8858 just outside the nearby village of Glasson ☎ +353 90 6439010 A lake front 5 star lodge with breathtaking world class views.

• Prince of Wales Hotel Church Street 53.42393,-7.93840 ☎ +353 90 6476666 - 4 star hotel in the centre of Athlone

• Sheraton Hotel Gleeson Street 53.42364,-7.93483 Town Centre ☎ +353 90 6451000 Check-in : 15:00 / Check-out: 12:00 In the centre of Athlone with views over the whole town.

• Hodson Bay Hotel @☎com Roscommon Road 53.46803,-7.98878 off the N61, 4 miles north of Athlone ☎ +353 90 6442000 - 4 star hotel overlooking scenic Lough Ree

• Creggan Court Hotel Dublin Road 53.4103,-7.8941 on the N62, on the eastern edge of town ☎ +353 90 6477777
• Athlone Springs Hotel @☎com Tuam Road 53.42173,-7.99680 just outside the town ☎ +353 90 6444444
• Shamrock Lodge Country House Hotel @☎ie Clonown Road 53.4215,-7.9503 just outside the town ☎ +353 90 6492601
• Raddison Blu Hotel Northgate Street 53.4250,-7.9416 ☎ +353 90 6442600

Bed & Breakfast

• Arch House Bed & Breakfast Sean Costello Street 53.42267,-7.93436 ☎ +353 90 6477222 - Bed and breakfast and self catering apartments

• Shelmalier House Cartrontroy 53.422167,-7.904663 ☎ +353 90 6472245
• Mill Cafe Bed & Breakfast Tuam Road 53.4256,-8.0034 just outside the town ☎ +353 90 642927

Where to travel next from Athlone

• Clonmacnoise and is located ten miles south of Athlone near Shannonbridge, Co Offaly. Along with Glendalough, Clonmacnoise is the best monastic site in Ireland. Head for Birr and turn off at Ballinahowen.
• Glasson, four miles northeast of Athlone, on the main Athlone to Cavan road, is a neat village, quaint and well maintained. Good views of Lough Ree on your left as you drive out from Athlone.
• Locke's Distillery and is located in Kilbeggan, twenty miles east of Athlone along the M6.
• Clonfert is the location for a small cathedral with a stunning romanesque doorway. It is almost opposite Clonmacnoise. Take the motorway heading for Galway and then branch off for Portumna at Ballinasloe. Along that road you'll see it signposted.
• Birr formerly known as Parsonstown, is a beautiful legacy town in County Offaly located 28 miles southeast of Athlone along the N52. The road takes you through the boggy plains of the Midlands.
• Ardagh is a legacy village in County Longford. It is a beautiful old world rural English style village. It was established by the Fetherstone family. Their house is now an agricultural college. It is about three miles off the main Athlone to Cavan road. Turn left at Carrickboy.

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