Things To See or Do in Athlone
.Athlone castle. Clonmacnoise Visitor & Interpretive Centre. Boating and Fishing on the River Shannon. Many golf courses close by. Bog tours . Dun na Si, centre for Irish dance, music and story telling. Walking and cycle tours.
Tourism and Amenities
The River Shannon runs through Athlone and the town is a popular spot for people passing through on pleasure craft, many of whom stop off at the Marinas. Lough Ree, the largest lake on the Shannon, is a short distance upstream from Athlone to the North of the town, and is popular among anglers, birdwatchers, and swimmers. The lake shore is easily accessed from Coosan Point, and Hodson Bay. The town is also home to Lough Ree Yacht Club, whose clubhouse is located on the promenade. The promenade is also a popular spot for anglers.
Athlone is the main retail centre in the Midlands, and Golden Island Shopping Centre attracts shoppers from a wide radius. There was also the smaller Texas Shopping Centre (formerly known as Athlone Shopping Centre, prior to being acquired by the Texas department store chain). Another large-scale development opened on November 1, 2007. Athlone Town Centre comprises two internal streets, with 54 shops and a hotel, and is the largest shopping and leisure centre in Ireland, outside Dublin.
Golden Island Shopping Centre, opened 1997.Athlone Regional Sports Centre is a facility (established May 2002) developed by the Town Council.
Sean's Bar, located on the west bank of the river, is listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest pub in the British Isles.
Other popular attractions for visitors are the Glendeer Open Farm and the Viking Cruise of the Shannon. The town's tourist office is located at Athlone Castle, in the town centre.
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