Roads:Athlone is on the N6. It is gradually being upgraded to motorway/dual-carriageway. Bypass for Dublin-Galway traffic. Council plans a new relief road, one-way traffic system and 6,000 new parking spaces. Galway (57 miles); Dublin (75 miles); Portlaoise (45 miles); Mullingar (36 miles).

Trains:First weekday departure to Dublin from Athlone at 5.05am (arrives Heuston 7.07am). Last train departs Heuston at 7.05pm (arrives Athlone 8.45pm). Athlone is on the Dublin-Westport/Ballina line. See www.iarnrodeireann.ie.

Bus Éireann:services to Dublin, Galway and other places.

Airport:Knock (63 miles); Dublin (80 miles)