Things to Do in Athlone: The Midlands' River Heart

Athlone straddles the River Shannon at its narrowest crossing in the heart of Westmeath, with Sean's Bar - reckoned the oldest pub in Europe, pouring since around 900 AD - on one bank and a Norman castle on the other. Note: Athlone Castle is closed for redevelopment, due to reopen in autumn 2026, so check athlonecastle.ie first.

The short version: Athlone is the town where the River Shannon cuts Westmeath in two, with the oldest pub in Europe on one bank and a Norman castle on the other. Come for a pint in Sean's Bar, a cruise up Lough Ree or down to Clonmacnoise, a flat cycle on the Old Rail Trail, and some of the best eating in the midlands.

Most people meet Athlone from the motorway, somewhere between Dublin and Galway, and keep going. That is the mistake. The town sits at the narrowest crossing point on the Shannon, which is exactly why the Normans built a castle here and why a tavern has been pouring drink on the same spot since the year 900. There is more packed into the streets either side of the bridge than a quick coffee stop lets on.

One thing to flag before you plan: Athlone Castle is closed for a major redevelopment and is due to reopen in autumn 2026, though the date is not locked. The walls and the riverside setting are still there to enjoy from outside, but you cannot tour the interior right now. Check athlonecastle.ie before you build a day around it.

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What is Athlone known for?

Athlone is known for Sean's Bar, recognised by Guinness World Records as the oldest pub in Ireland and reckoned to be the oldest in Europe, and for its position on the Shannon as the gateway to Ireland's Hidden Heartlands. It is a river town first and foremost: cruises, a greenway, a working quay and a food scene that punches well above the size of the place.

Must-see in Athlone

Sean's Bar

A tavern has stood on this Main Street site since around 900, and Sean's holds the Guinness World Records certificate for the oldest pub in Ireland. The low, dark, sloping-floored interior is the real thing, and a section of the original wattle-and-daub wall is held in the National Museum. Go midweek in the afternoon if you want to actually see the place and chat to the bar staff; for trad music, arrive in the evening and expect it to be full. Open daily, with later hours on Friday and Saturday.

Athlone Castle

The squat 13th-century Norman keep guards the bridge and tells the story of the 1691 Siege of Athlone, one of the bloodiest in Irish history. The visitor centre and its interactive displays are closed for redevelopment until autumn 2026, so for now this is an exterior visit: walk the curtain walls, photograph it from the far bank, and come back once it reopens. The setting alone, with the river running past the gun ports, is worth the short detour off the bridge.

A Shannon cruise to Lough Ree or Clonmacnoise

The classic Athlone day out is a boat trip from the castle quay. A replica Viking ship runs two routes: a 75-minute return loop up to Lough Ree, the lake of the kings, with commentary on the island monasteries and a fair bit of Viking theatre, or a longer one-way run downriver to Clonmacnoise. It suits all ages and you can book onboard. Sailings are weather and season dependent, so check the operator before you set off.

Church of Saints Peter and Paul

The twin-towered Renaissance church over the bridge holds a remarkable set of stained-glass windows from the Harry Clarke Studios, made in the late 1930s by Richard King after Clarke's death. The deep blues and reds, the long fingers and the haunted faces are unmistakably in the Clarke tradition. It is open during the day for quiet visits and takes half an hour to do properly. Free to enter; mind that it is a working church.

Luan Gallery

Athlone's municipal art gallery sits right on the left bank with the Shannon below the windows, which makes it one of the better-sited galleries in the midlands. The programme rotates contemporary work by Irish and international artists, and admission is free, Tuesday to Sunday. It is a good rainy-hour option and pairs well with a riverside coffee afterwards.

Lesser-known corners of Athlone

Dead Centre Brewing

A craft brewery and taproom planted, as the name jokes, near the dead centre of Ireland, with tables out over the Shannon. The beer list is long, the wood-fired pizza is the thing to order, and there are brewery tours at weekends if you want to see how it is made. Good for a relaxed afternoon when the cruise and the castle walk are done.

The Old Rail Trail Greenway

A flat, traffic-free cycle and walking path that follows the old Midland Great Western Railway line for 42km from Garrycastle on the edge of Athlone all the way to Mullingar. You do not have to do the whole thing: the first stretch out of Athlone toward Moate is gentle and family-friendly, and bike hire is available locally. It is one of the easiest greenways in the country to ride with kids.

The quays and the riverside walk

You can lose a pleasant hour just walking the Shannon banks between the bridge and the lock, watching the cruisers come and go and reading the plaques on the old warehouses. It costs nothing and gives you the clearest sense of why the town grew up exactly here.

Where to eat and drink in Athlone

For dinner, The Fatted Calf in nearby Glasson, about ten minutes out, has built a national reputation on local produce and proper Irish beef, and books up at weekends. In town, the Left Bank quarter behind the castle is the place to wander for bistros and wine bars, and Dead Centre covers the casual pizza-and-a-pint end. For a self-catering stop, Burgess of Athlone has been trading on Church Street since 1839 and the local butchers are worth a look. Sean's, of course, is the only address that matters for the pint.

Make a day of it near Athlone

Athlone sits on the Westmeath and Offaly border, so the best day trips cross the county line. The obvious one is Clonmacnoise, the early-medieval monastic city on the Shannon south of town, with its round towers, high crosses and cathedral ruins; it is reachable by river or a short drive into Offaly. North of town, Lough Ree and the lakeland villages of Glasson and Coosan make an easy loop. If you are based here for a couple of days, our guide to things to do in Mullingar picks up the far end of the Old Rail Trail, and the wider things to do in Westmeath guide rounds out the lakes and heritage sites across the county. For the Clonmacnoise side of the river, see our things to do in Offaly guide.

Two tours worth booking ahead

If you would rather have the driving and logistics handled, two private options take in the headline sights:

• Sean's Bar and Athlone Castle en route Dublin to Galway. A private chauffeur transfer that breaks the Dublin to Galway run with a stop at the oldest pub and the castle, so you see the two big Athlone names without minding the wheel. Good for a couple or small group crossing the country anyway. Check prices and availability.
• Private Boat Tour on the River Shannon to Clonmacnoise. A private boat trip from Athlone down the Shannon to the monastic city at Clonmacnoise, the most memorable way to arrive at the high crosses and round towers. Suits a family or small group who want the river to themselves. Check prices and availability.

Getting to Athlone

Athlone is more or less the midpoint of Ireland, which is the whole point of the place. By car it is roughly 90 minutes from Dublin and an hour from Galway on the M6. By rail it sits on the Dublin to Galway and Dublin to Westport lines, so the train station is a short walk from the town centre. Once you are here, the core sights either side of the bridge are all walkable; you only need a car or a bike for the greenway and the lake villages.

What is on in Athlone?

The town's calendar leans on the river and the food scene. Summer brings cruises running daily and the quays at their busiest, while autumn 2026 should see Athlone Castle reopen after its redevelopment, which will be the big local event of the year. For current festivals, markets and opening hours, the county tourism board keeps the best list at visitwestmeath.ie, and the Old Rail Trail greenway page has up-to-date access and bike-hire details.

Frequently asked questions about Athlone

Is Athlone worth visiting?

Yes. For a town its size, Athlone has an unusual concentration of things to do: the oldest pub in Europe, a Norman castle on the Shannon, river cruises, a 42km greenway and a strong food scene, all walkable from one bridge. It works as a day trip or a base for the wider lakelands.

Is Athlone Castle open?

The castle visitor centre is closed for redevelopment and is expected to reopen in autumn 2026, though that date is not confirmed. You can still see and photograph the castle from outside. Check the official site before planning a visit.

What is the oldest pub in Athlone?

Sean's Bar on Main Street, which holds the Guinness World Records certificate as the oldest pub in Ireland, with a tavern recorded on the site since around 900. It is widely considered the oldest pub in Europe.

How do I get from Athlone to Clonmacnoise?

By car it is about a 25-minute drive south into Offaly. In season you can also take a river cruise from the castle quay that runs one way down the Shannon to the monastic site, which is the more memorable way to arrive.

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