Guided Walking Tours of Athlone

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What is Athlone Guided Tours?

Scheduled tours take place on Thursdays and Saturdays at 11am. Private tours are available most days on request. Athlone Guided Tours are suitable for visitors and locals alike.

The tour encompasses oral history, folklore, memories, famous residents, landmarks and placenames throughout the history of Athlone.

The group tour, led by an enthusiastic local guide, is guaranteed to be the right mix of educational, fun and memorable!

Check out Athlone Guided Tour’s reviews on Tripadvisor!

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Book Your Tour Online

Walk-ups are welcome, but we advise booking your tour slot in advance to ensure your place.

Private Tours Welcome

We are more than happy to accomodate larger groups or private tours outside of the regular tour times, please get in touch to organise.Call us on +353861963492.

Share Your Pics

We love to see photos of Athlone, especially taken during our tours! Be sure to tag us on your social media posts so we can engage!

Some of the stops on your tour include...

Sean's Bar

Founded in 900AD, Sean's Bar the oldest pub in Europe...and possibly the World! Learn more about the bar's colourful past and how the settlement of Athlone can be linked back to the original innkeeper.

Athlone Castle

Standing proudly on the banks of the Shannon, Athlone Castle has withstood military bombardments, lightning explosions and council demolition plans over its fascinating 800-year history.

Old Town Wall & Landmarks

Dating from the 13th & 17th Century, significant sections of Athlone's Eastern town walls, defensive bastions and tower remain standing to this day. Learn how the old walled town remains interwoven within the streetscape and place names of modern day Athlone.

Custume Barracks

Immerse yourself in the history of Custume Barracks, Europe's oldest military barracks, by discovering its fascinating links to Napoleonic France, Nazi Germany and the American Civil War.

Navigation on the River Shannon

Athlone owes it existence to its favourable crossing location on Ireland's greatest river, the Shannon. Learn of the town's trailblazing rail and river engineering feats of the 19th Century which harnessed this majestic rivers natural forces, permanently shaping the development of the wider region

Tales of Remarkable Athlonians

Athlone has a proud history of producing world renowned musical superstars. Learn of the meteoric rise from the most humble beginnings to international fame and fortune of two of Athlones most celebrated sons.

Learn also how some of Athlones near forgotten natives left their mark in history. Hear the epic encounters experienced by a couple of local heroes in two of world's most notorious marine disasters of the 20th Century

Siege of Athlone

Travel back in time to 1691 and relive the story of the Siege of Athlone. This battle was a critical episode in a series of events which permanently altered the course of Irish and British history right up to the present day. The siege remained the heaviest ever military bombardment on these two islands right up until the Easter Rising, wreaking havoc on the town of Athlone.

Private Tours Welcome!

Tours for private groups can be catered for on other days of the week, subject to availability.
Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information on how we can accomodate private groups.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have some questions about our Guided Tour of Athlone? Perhaps our FAQ's can help. If not, be sure to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will answer as soon as possible.

When/Where does the tour start?

Scheduled tour begins at the front of Athlone Castle, beside the Market Square on Thursdays and Saturdays at 11am. Car parking can be found on Market Square, as well as Main Street and Barrack Street.

How long does the tour last?

The walking tour lasts between 1 hour 30 minutes and 2 hours. This can vary depending on various factors such as weather, questions and walking speed of our guests.

How much is the tour?

The Scheduled Tour costs €10 per person, Kids are free of charge and do not need to be included in the booking. Concessions can be made for large groups or volunteer groups.

Are tours held on other days?

At special request, tours for larger groups can be catered for on days and times outside of this, depending on availability. If you would like to book a group tour, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Can I show up without booking?

Walk-ups are welcome, but dependant on availability. To ensure your spot on the tour, and to reduce cash handling, we always recommend guests to pre-book and pre-pay online to confirm your place. There is a limit on the amount of guests we can bring and we don't want to leave anybody behind!

How much walking is involved?

The tour starts at Athlone castle and visits various locations in Athlone, including the Strand, the Civic Square and Athlone's Latin Quarter.

The tour is roughly 3,000 steps or 2.3km in length, so bring your walking shoes!

Meet your Tour Guide!

Vincent is a native of Cornafulla, Athlone. Having recently retired as postmaster of Cornafulla Post Office, Vincent has turned his interests in the history of Athlone into a passion to share with visitors and locals alike.

CONTACT VINCENT

Vincent Harney

Athlone Guided Tours

Athlone Guided Tour Reviews

We ask all our Tour guests to leave us a review on Facebook, Google or Trip Advisor and recommend us to a friend! We thank you sincerely for your support.

Fantastic walking tour of Athlone!

Breda D via Facebook

Its rich history was vividly brought to life by Vincent in a truly engaging manner. Tour is Family friendly, would highly recommend it to all.

We had fun and learned a lot!

Brian J via TripAdvisor

Had a great experience on a walking tour with Vincent. I recommend his beautiful riverside tour to anyone who wants to get to know Athlone.

I reallly recommend this tour

Olive R via Google

The guide is very knowledgeable yet provides life stories and entertainment. Athlone has a great history which is brought to life.

Professional, Engaging and Authentic

Gareth D via TripAdvisor

A very enjoyable tour with Vincent (a local!) is steeped in the town. Tour will suit children, older people, natives of the area and tourists. Well worth it!

Why not join us next Weekend!

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Grant aided under the Waterways Ireland Heritage Grants Programme