Athlone Castle / King John's Castle

On the west bank of the Shannon, above the town of Athlone and the bridge, is the 15th C. King John's Castle (National Monument), which now houses a Visitor Center with exhibition rooms devoted to civic history and the flora and fauna of the Shannon region. Near the bridge stands the Church of SS Peter and Paul, a fine modern building (1937) with stained glass depicting well-known people, among them the tenor John McCormack (1884-1945), a native of the town. The station, in Galway Road, is a good example of early railroad architecture.

The castle features exhibitions and audio-visual presentations.