Athenry Travel Guide

  Athenry town gate.
by leics
 
  • Athenry town gate.
      Athenry town gate.
    by leics
  •   Athenry
    by leics
  • Athenry castle.
      Athenry castle.
    by leics
  • Northgate Str. Athenry
      Northgate Str. Athenry
    by Cruefan
  • So many places, so little time
      So many places, so little time
    by Cruefan
 

Pro

Cruefan profile photo

  Close to Galway City 


Con

leics profile photo

  None that I came across 


In a nutshell

horseskoby profile photo

  worth a day trip from galway 

 

Explore Athenry

Things to Do  

The heritage centre

The heritage centre, Athenry

 sourbugger Says:  Based right in the middle of town in an abandoned church is a museum / heritage centre looking at the history of Athenry. (there is also an entrance opposite Athenry castle)It's not spectacular but there is a good range of explanatory boards and models.I was also quite... 

I'm sure it's worth the visit

I'm sure it's worth the visit, Athenry

 sourbugger Says:  I set out the other day to spend a few hours in Athenry, it's always a town I had liked the look of, but never had the time to explore.First stop was obviously the quite impressive three-story Norman castle built by Meiler de Bermingham, who was granted much of the lands of... 

Our Lady's well

Our Lady's well, Athenry

 sourbugger Says:  The complex of holy buildings known as 'Our Lady's well' is just out of the town, about a mile away and well signposted.This place has been a site of pilgrimage for hundreds of years followinng an appearance of the Virgin Mary to defeated soldiers following the second battle... 

Drive through the North Gate

Drive through the North Gate, Athenry

 sourbugger Says:  Athenry has generally regarded as one of the finest 'walled' town built in Ireland. Most of the walls and towers lay in various states of decay.The North gate however still stands proud and as you exit the town the road drives straight through the structure. The tower also... 

The Market cross

The Market cross, Athenry

 sourbugger Says:  The market cross, right in the middle of the town, is apparantly unique in Ireland for two reasons. Firstly it has not been moved since it was erected in the 15th century and secondly it is a 'lantern' type structure (more common in the UK) rather than more common 'Celtic... 

No monks with dirty habits anymore

No monks with dirty habits anymore, Athenry

 sourbugger Says:  The ruined abbey is just across the road from the castle and grounds in Athenry, and was founded in 1241 by Meiler de Bermingham - the same bloke who built the castle. I guess planning permission was more easily gained in those days. The place burned down in 1423, it was... 

Dominican Priory

Dominican Priory, Athenry

 Cruefan Says:  This ruined priory is right across from Athenry castle. It was built in 1241and is a great example of a Medieval Monastary. I expolored the grounds during the day and at night after a night at the Castlegate Hotel. I prefered during the day because the locals say it's... 

The Athenry Castle

The Athenry Castle, Athenry

 Cruefan Says:  "The Castle consists of a towering Keep surrounded by a curtain wall with three towers, one rectangular and two round. The Keep was basically a castle within a castle where the lord and his family and loya retainers lived. The river Clareen on the East side of the castle fed... 

Hotels  

Raheen Woods Hotel

 2 Reviews and 95 Opinions  Just outside the town of Athenry, this hotel is a great location for exploring County Galway. It's... 

Restaurants  

Keane's bar.: Good pub food.

Keane's bar.: Good pub food., Athenry

 leics Says:  Pleasant pub, good reasonably-priced food (soup is home-made). Guinness good too. Smoking area outside (with heaters). 

Nightlife  

Castlegate Hotel, Hop Inn, Murphy's: Visit a good pub

Castlegate Hotel, Hop Inn, Murphy's: Visit a good pub, Athenry

 Cruefan Says:  While in Athenry I found that there was no shortage of pubs. We visited a few but the Hop Inn was my favorite. We met some great locals and while I'm on that subject Athenry lacks tourists. We however did meet an American that had arrived 6 months before to search for his... 

Transportation  

On the inter-city route from Dublin

On the inter-city route from Dublin, Athenry

 sourbugger Says:  Athenry usefully lies on the main Dublin (Hueston) to Galway main line.There are currently about half a dozen trains a day each way and all stop by Athenry.This frequency is likely to increase in the next few years as the line is being upgraded and a commuter service is... 

Athenry Station

Athenry Station, Athenry

 Cruefan Says:  The station is located right off town centre and both train service to Dublin and Galway can be taken from Athenry. There is parking on premesis. 

Local Customs  

Irish Breakfast

Irish Breakfast, Athenry

 Cruefan Says:  I love an Irish Fry. It consisted of rashers(bacon) sausage, fried egg, a potato waffle, fried tomato, and white pudding. We had one probably every other day we were there... mmmmm good. 

Electric Showers

Electric Showers, Athenry

 Cruefan Says:  In Ireland hot water is set-up a little different than I'm used to in the states. Where we stayed in Athenry they had an electric shower There was a switch on the ceiling next to the shower. You pulled the string and it turned the switch to on. You must do this to get hot... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Don't miss looking at the train station.

Don't miss looking at the train station., Athenry

 sourbugger Says:  Athenry train station is one of those places that looks as if it has been preserved as a 'museum' , but just has had zero investment for so long it feels that old.The wooden canopies on both sides give in a 'picture postcard' feel and there are a number of old photographs of... 

Market cross.

Market cross., Athenry

 leics Says:  Look at the market cross............it's in the market square. It's unusual, because it has a depiction of the crucifixion. Apparently, it's the only one like this apart from on the Continent. Sadly, it's in poor condition and, perhaps, needs removing and conserving before... 

Gaelic hardball

Gaelic hardball, Athenry

 sourbugger Says:  Although this part of Ireland is littered with outdoor 'hardball' courts, i've never actually seen one in use.The game is similar to 'fives' or squast played with the hand rather than a racket.I thought the Athenry court was quite unusual, to say the least.The back wall was... 

The Fields of Athenry

The Fields of Athenry, Athenry

 Cruefan Says:  Written by Peter St. John in the 1980's. The Fields of Athenry were written about the struggle between Ireland and England. The lyrics go.By the lonely prison wall, I heard a young girl calling,Michael, they have taken you away.For you stole Trevelyan's corn,So the young... 

Favorites  

A song to stir the blood

A song to stir the blood, Athenry

 sourbugger Says:  'The Fields of Athenry' is a song known all over the world. Many presume that the song has a long history, but it was in fact written in 1979 by 'The Dubliners'. Others claim that they have modified a song from 1888 .These days it is often sung at various gathering and has... 

The Place

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The People

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Our Members Say
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 The station is located right off town centre and both train service to Dublin and Galway can be taken from Athenry. There is parking on premesis. 

3 members live in Athenry

 

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Top 4 Athenry Writers

1

I promise not to sing

sourbugger profile photo

 Athenry (pronounced ath - en - rye and not ath-hen-ree) is known the world over for the song 'the feilds of athenry'. It's a small little place - but it packs in sacks of history. 

2

Athenry

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  Athenry was my home base for my Ireland 2005 trip. My wife and I stayed at her aunt and uncle's house. Athenry used to be a walled city and about 3/4 of the walls still exist. The town was formed... 

3

'The Fields of Athenry...............

leics profile photo

 .........is a famous, and sad, song about the famine. The fields of Athenry also contain some interesting archaeology (Bronze Age), in which I was able to have a little dig. Baile Ath an Ri means...... 

4

Ath na ri

horseskoby profile photo

 This is the town that the famous song "the fields of athenry" was written about. Its name in irish means "ath na ri" or "place of the kings". A 20 minute journey from galway and well worth the visit 

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