The River Shannon

The mighty River Shannon is central to Athlone’s identity and has given it life and purpose since at least the Bronze Age. This important relationship between static space and ever-flowing river grew in importance from about 1,000 years ago when King Turlough O’Connor of Connacht first used it as a fording point for raids into neighbouring Leinster and then fortified the crossing point itself. The historical details of that first fortified point are slim but then, as now, Athlone could likely have been a place for meeting, eating and drinking with people from all over.

This was certainly the case for the Vikings who loved travelling up the Shannon to raid rich monasteries like Clonmacnoise (hence the need for its iconic and still-standing round tower). In fact Athlone became the venue for a settling of Scandinavian scores as Limerick Vikings travelled up the Shannon to fight their brethren from Dublin some time in 937.

The martial and defensive importance of Athlone expanded from King Turlough’s early castle, with the invading Normans settling on the crossing point in the 12th century and building sturdier bridges and the even more robust Athlone Castle. So strong were those initial defensive features, and expanded ones added in the 13th century, that they are still apparent today. The Shannon at Athlone also became a potential route of invasion during the Napoleonic Wars, leading to its garrison being expanded and further defensive features on the river being added.