Athlone Ireland Athlone is renowned for its location on the banks of the Shannon which flows through the town centre. In the early thirteenth century the Anglo-Normans built a stone Castle to guard the strategic river crossing to the west of Ireland. Lough Ree just north of the town is one of the largest lakes on the Shannon and provides the perfect location for water activities such as angling, cruising, water skiing, wind surfing, sailing and regattas. Athlone is located not far from the famous early |