Population:19,000. Employment:Elan Corporation; Ericsson; Athlone Extrusions; Mallinckrodt Medical; Department of Education; Revenue Commissioners; Department of Defence (Custume Barracks); Athlone Institute of Technology.
Hospitals: St Vincent's (District Hospital); General hospitals at Portiuncula, Ballinasloe (17miles); Tullamore (24); and Mullingar (36).
Education:seven primary and five secondary; Marist College (boys); St Aloysius (boys); Our Lady's Bower (girls); Coláiste Mhuire (mixed); and Athlone Community College (mixed). Third-level at the Athlone Institute of Technology which has four faculties (business, engineering, humanities, and science) and caters for up 5,000 full- and part-time students. See www.ait.ie. Nearest university is at NUI, Galway (57 miles).
Culture:the RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival has been based in Athlone since its establishment in 1953 and is considered to be the premier amateur drama festival in Europe. The Dean Crowe Theatre and Arts Centre is located in the "left bank" area of Athlone; the Athlone Little Theatre company operates from a 200-year-old theatre at St Mary's Place.
Sport:well-known rugby club, the Buccaneers; soccer (Athlone Town FC); Regional Sports Centre with swimming pool, indoor court, gym and astra turf; Athlone Golf Club and Glasson Golf & Country Club.
Leisure:numerous marinas. Athlone is a centre for renting "self-drive" cabin cruisers. Travel south to Killaloe, north to Beleek and Enniskillen, and also link to the Grand Canal. Visit the monastic site at Clonmacnoise which is best accessed by the River Shannon (16 miles away by road but only eight by water).
Dining:Athlone is the culinary capital of the midlands and well-known restaurants include Left Bank Bistro (Australian/Oriental/Mediterranean); Kin Khao (Thai); and Wineport Lodge with its own jetty on the shores of Lough Ree (used as a location recently for RTÉ's The Restaurant series).
Must see:Athlone Castle features exhibitions and audio visual presentations including the story of The Siege of Athlone; the Aidan Heavey Public Library at the Civic Centre; the stunning Harry Clarke stained-glass windows at the Church of Saints Peter & Paul.
Twinned with:Chateaubriant in the French Department of Loire-Atlantique.
Curious fact:in the 17th century, the town had a thriving hat-making industry. According to Dean Swift: "Those who are born in this country will think themselves abundantly happy when they can afford an Athlone hat."
Website:www.athlone.ie.
Local radio:Midlands 103 FM (special Westmeath service from 2pm to 8pm on 95.4FM). Also, Shannonside Radio at 104.1 FM.
Best aspects:majestic setting by the River Shannon; reputation for good restaurants; central location.
Main issue:the local council plans to create a more "pedestrian-friendly" town centre.
