Visitors to Ireland usually tour the west coast, as well as going to Dublin in the east. I want to tell you about the Irish Midlands and particularly about the lovely places along the banks of the mighty River Shannon. This beautiful majestic waterway flows down through the center of Ireland.
I suggest that you hire a cruiser and take some time out from your busy life to travel along this peaceful scenic river. A few days into your holiday, I guarantee you will be as relaxed as the locals seem to be. Sign up to IrishCentral's newsletter to stay up-to-date with everything Irish! I’ve lived in Athlone all my life.
It is in the very centre of Ireland. By Irish standards, it is a big town, divided in two by the river Shannon. Connaught is on one side of the bridge and Leinster on the other.
In the past, Athlone was of great strategic importance, as the enemy could approach the town by river. In the eleventh century, King John built a stone castle on the Connaught side of town. This big castle still stands today.
A Visitors Center within tells the whole history of the area. There are plenty of mooring spaces in the town. River Shannon at Athlone.
(Getty Images) Clonmacnoise lies a few miles south of Athlone. There is a jetty for boats nearby. I make a point of visiting this monastic site at least once every summer.
It is a spiritual experience for me. In the era when Ireland was known as ‘The Island of Saints and Scholars,’ students came to Clonmacnoise from all over Europe..