Standing on the banks of the River Shannon in Athlone, the castle dates back to the 12th century…read morewith multiple updates and fortifications. Despite its age, there has been tremendous effort to restore it to its original glory with the installation of an interactive visitor experience. Exhibits and displays give history and what it was like to be here during the Williamite War and beyond to the modern Irish Republic. Lots of artifacts and historical presentations. Great views of the town of Athlone and the Athlone Bridge. It's worth a stop. [Review 1969 of 2024 - 150 in Republic of Ireland - 22991 overall]

A lovely treasure along the Shannon River. Very helpful information desk -- try to get on a tour…read moreto get the full story, so much more informative to get an explanation of the different costumes and time periods. The lobby has some vintage artifacts that are interesting to see and ponder.

Located about 15 miles east of Galway off the M6, the Athenry Castle dates back to the 13th…read morecentury. Stone walls, a keep and the restored hall are impressive and a fabulous opportunity to look back into medieval life. Check the doorways and arches and battlements and enjoy the castle's impressive artistry. The structure stands at a ford on the Clareen River. After the castle, walk the grounds. Impeccably maintained and there is free parking. Lots of opportunity for photo ops. The Priory down the street is also impressive. If you stop and listen carefully, maybe you can hear the voices of those who were here before? [Review 1966 of 2024 - 147 in Republic of Ireland - 22988 overall]

I could not get enough of Athenry Castle. I am from Chicago, where we have 150ish years of history…read more Ireland has thousands of years of history. Athenry Castle brought history classes to life for me. When I talked with locals, they said the castle has always been there for them so they take it for granted. I walked the grounds on more than one occasion and simply could not get enough of this seemingly ancient building with so much history and energy surrounding it. Athenry Castle is worth a stop, not just for the castle, but the town arch and fences which were all part of the original layout. You can also walk the grounds, check out the cemetery and let the kids burn off any energy in the playlot that is right there.

Birr Castle was built in 1620 and replaced an earlier one built in 1170. Unlike many other Irish…read morecastles, Birr Castle is still used as a residence, by the family of the seventh earl of Rosse. While the castle isn't open to the public, the grounds include extensive gardens and the Historic Science Centre, a museum of Ireland's historic scientists and their contributions to both astronomy and botany. The walled gardens include box hedges that are more than 300 years old. They are also noted in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's tallest hedge.

What can I say - a fabulous experience! The grounds are…read moregorgeous. I went for a fabulous walk, and now that the plants can grow freely, the place is a wildlife wonderland! I saw small, red butterflies in abundance, ones I'd never seen before! They were everywhere! The gift shop is also lovely, with some perfect souvenirs! I recommend the playground to all parents as it is such a fun experience for the little ones! The telescope and science museum were amazing also, I learned so much! I particularly enjoyed the part where one of the Earl's wife was talking about photography and her dark room. It was an amazing display! I recommend this trip highly, as it is so cheap to come in and such a wonderful experience!

I learned about W.B. Yeats in an Irish Literature class in college and have been obsessed with…read morevisiting this place. This tower and visitor center are located out in the beautiful countryside on a quiet lane. The staff was welcoming, even setting up the Yeats video for us to watch before our tour. Walking around the spaces that he wrote many of his best poems was inspiring, especially since they have some of the original furniture around. The stairs to head up the tower are steep and slim, so that's good to keep in mind. They do allow you on the roof, which I would recommend because we got to take in the countryside that Yeats would often view.

Open May through September, I was too early to get into the building. This tower castle was owned…read moreby the family of W.B. Yates. The poet spent a great deal of time living here throughout his life.When the building suffered flood damage several years ago, a group of W.B.Yates enthusiasts came together to raise funds to restore the tower house. It reopened in the summer 2015. This location is also famous for fans of John Wayne and specifically fans of the movie 'The Quiet Man' which was filmed in many locations around Co. Galway. Although now overgrown, Maureen O'Hara took off her stockings in what was a field behind the building, and ran across the (very low at the time) river with John Wayne not far behind. Attached to the tower is a low, thatched roof building and across the way is a low walled garden with a bridge over a stream. The path from the bridge leads to a dead end which makes me believe it is a good fishing spot just there. There is a small high walled garden at the end of the thatched structure. It's a nice drive out, and the property is quite nice to visit. There is a large parking lot on the left, just before you reach to the tower and tour buses come this way. If you are a fan of Yates, Wayne, or like to fish, take the drive through lovely countryside and visit Thoor Ballylee.

I came here on a guided day tour out of Galway…read more... Kind of cool to see.. Interesting history behind it..... Not much else to see in the area... worth a stop... And it's free!

A scenic half hour drive from Athlone the Clonmacnoise monastery is a great side trip. The grounds…read moreare beautiful and you can almost hear the chanting of medieval monks in the church ruins. It's just a very atmospheric place and well worth a visit.

Our first day tour stop on the way to Galway was the Clonmacnoise Monastic Site, another Irish…read morelocation loaded with History. As we pulled in, a derelict Norman Castle greeted us from the parking lot. St Ciarán founded his monastery on the banks of the River Shannon in the 6th Century. The monastery flourished and became a great seat of learning, a University of its time with students from all over Europe. It was also noted for its illuminated manuscripts and skilled craftsmanship. The monastic ruins were abandoned in the 13th Century. The ruins include a Cathedral, two round Towers, three high crosses, nine Churches and over 700 Early Christian grave slabs. The original high crosses, including the magnificent 10th century Cross of the Scriptures are on display in a purpose built visitor centre adjacent to the monastic enclosure. The visitor centre is a must, with the introduction video recommended. One thing I picked up here was learning the difference between a cemetery and a graveyards, of which the latter are always linked to the adjacent Church. Another attraction (beside the pretty view of the River) is the small pavilion where Pope John Paul II hosted Mass in September of 1979. There was a certain peace to this place as Gayle and I walked along.