Jolien’s Athlone Adventures

This week, Jolien shares her impressions of Athlone and all it has to offer. On her Athlone adventures, Jolien made the most of the amenities, both historic and modern, and at the end of the trip, the Midlands town gets a strong thumbs-up from our intern.

During our stay in Galway, we took a day trip to Athlone. We started by taking the train from Galway to Athlone, followed by a short bus ride to Moate. From there, it was about a 20-minute walk to the Dún na Sí Heritage Park, just outside the town. 

The park was absolutely beautiful and incredibly peaceful. We spent some time learning about Celtic traditions and the Catholics in Ireland. The park is very well laid out and informative, but also super relaxing to walk through. Along the way, we came across some farm animals, which added a fun touch to the visit.

The lady at the front desk was so nice. She was passionate about her job and Irish culture, taught us some Irish words, and gave us some tips on how to learn them.  

Right next to the heritage site is the Amenity Park, which was a real surprise. It’s quiet and scenic, with lovely walking paths and even some hidden art installations along the trail – a perfect spot to slow down and enjoy nature. 

Back in Athlone, we spent the afternoon exploring the town centre. We walked to Athlone Castle and the River Shannon, and took in the views. The town has a really charming atmosphere, with a nice mix of old and new. 

To end the day, we treated ourselves to some shopping before heading back to Galway. Athlone has a shopping centre with big shops you won’t find in Galway. Overall, it was a really chilled and interesting day – definitely worth the trip.