August 21, 2012

Athlone

Athlone Castle

The earliest recorded “castle” of Athlone was a wooden structure built in 1129, by King Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair of Connacht, possibly on the site of the present castle. The stone castle which survives today dates from 1210 and was built for King John by his Irish Justiciar, Bishop John de Gray of Norwich. It was built to defend the crossing point of the river at Athlone and to provide a bridgehead to facilitate the Norman advance into Connaught. The castle of 1210 was a free standing polygonal tower built on a newly built (or existing) ‘motte’ or man-made hill. This tower, though great altered, can still be seen as the central keep or ‘donjon’ of the castle today. The castle was greatly fortified in the late 13th century (c1276) when the original ‘motte’ was surrounded with a curtain wall with three-quarter round towers (or drum towers) at the corners. Athlone Castle, Athlone, County Westmeath, Leinster, Republic of Ireland, (Baile Átha Luain, Contae an hIarmhí, Laighin, Éire), August 21, 2012. f/9, 1/320 second, ISO 200.

The River Shannon

The River Shannon as it flows through the city of Athlone looking toward the east bank. Athlone, the Irish name meaning "town of Luan's ford", is a town on the River Shannon near the southern shore of Lough Ree. It is the largest town in the Midlands Region. River Shannon, Athlone, County Westmeath, Leinster, Republic of Ireland, (Baile Átha Luain, Contae an hIarmhí, Laighin, Éire), August 21, 2012. f/8, 1/250 second, ISO 200.