Athlone
Athlone (/æθˈloʊn/; Irish: Baile Átha Luain, meaning "The town of Luan's ford") is a town on the border of County Roscommon and County Westmeath, Ireland. It is located on the River Shannon near the southern shore of Lough Ree. It is the second most populous town in the Midlands Region with a population of 22,869 in the 2022 census.
Athlone
Baile Átha Luain | |
|---|---|
Town | |
From centre: the Church of Saints Peter and Paul sits on the bank of the River Shannon; Athlone Castle | |
|
Coat of arms | |
| Motto(s): Latin: Urbes Stant Legibus "A city stands by its laws" | |
Athlone Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates: 53°25′25″N 07°56′33″W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster, Connacht |
| County | County Westmeath, County Roscommon |
| Government | |
| • Dáil constituency | Longford–Westmeath |
| Area | |
| • Total | 10.92 km2 (4.22 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 56 m (184 ft) |
| Population (2022) | |
| • Total | 22,869 |
| • Density | 2,100/km2 (5,400/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC±0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (IST) |
| Eircode routing key | N37 |
| Telephone area code | +353(0)90 |
| Irish Grid Reference | N033420 |
| Website | athlone |
Most of the town lies on the east bank of the river, within the townland of the same name; however, by the terms of the Local Government Act of 1898, six townlands on the west bank of the Shannon, formerly in County Roscommon, were incorporated into the town, and consequently, into the county of Westmeath.
Around 100 km west of Dublin, Athlone is near the geographical centre of Ireland, which is 8.85 kilometres (5.50 mi) north-northwest of the town, in the area of Carnagh East in County Roscommon.