Athlone is a town which is located in the Westmeath region in the center of Ireland. The town is very lively and rich in terms of its history and culture in addition to its modern style. The Shannon River passes through this old town and divides it into two parts as east and west. Many charming houses painted with remarkable colors welcome you in the west in accompany with local restaurants and antique shops. In the east, modern streets hosting foreign stores and shopping centers wait for their visitors. Athlone Castle is the most important attraction center of the town with its history dating back to the 13th century.
You can see the works of the Early Christianity period in Clonmacnoise which was built in the midst of the 6th century and which is one of the biggest monastery areas of Ireland. The Hill of Uisneach is a place where you can see the most mysterious historical places of the country. Fore Abbey Monastery, which is described as an “unbelievable place” and dates back to the 600 AD, is one of the historical beauties of Athlone that is worth-seeing.
If you want to experience modern adventures and enjoy various sports activities, the town is also very dynamic about these topics. Boat tours, fishing, water-skiing, golf and windsurfing are among these activities. There are also walking tracks in parks and between historical towns. You can enjoy the performances of amateur theater players in Drama Festival in the town which is also home to the most beautiful festivals of Ireland. There is also the Literature Festival where you can remember the most beautiful works once more.
The closest airport to Athlone is the Ireland West Airport (NOC) located in Charlestown. The distance between the airport and the town is about 100 kilometers. You can benefit from taxi or shuttle services for reaching the town.