athlone

During the period of the Confederate and Cromwelliam Wars in the 17th century the castle changed hands several times. When the State was established in 1922 the British Athorities handed over the Castle to the Irish defence forces and it continued to serve as a military post until 1969 when it was declared a national monument under the control of the Office of Public Works.

The Visitor's Centre was completed in 1991 to mark the Tercentenary of the Siege of Athlone and has three major exhibitions. the themes of the exhibition are: (a) The Sieges of Athlone and Athlone as a military base; (b) The life and times of John Count McCormack; and (c) the Flora and Fauna of the Shannon.

Old Walls of Athlone:
Portion of the old walls when Athlone was a fortified town can be seen at Railway view on the Leinster (east) side of the town. The Bawn: Situated off Mardyke Street the Ban is the birthplace of the celebrated Irish tenor - John Count McCormack. A bronze plaque marks the house. There is a monument to his memory on the banks of the River Shannon at Athlone. Franciscan Abbey Ruins: Situated in an ancient cemetery on Abbey Road, the friary was erected by Cathal O'Conor, King of Connaught in 1241. It was here that Michael O'Clery, chief of the Four Masters, completed a portion of the Annals of the Four Masters. Court Devenish Castle: The ruins are those of a well preserved 18th century castle.