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Sign in with FacebookLatest Athenry hotel reviews
Pro
Close to Galway City
Con
None that I came across
In a nutshell
worth a day trip from galway
The Market Cross,The Square, Athenry.
pfsmalo Says: A short walk from the Priory is Market square where stands this unique 15th c monument, deemed a "cross" as it depicts the crucifixion scene, but looks more like a heap of rubble with the scene on top. Standing some 2.5 metres high this was where the market traders made...
Athenry Dominican Priory, Athenry.
pfsmalo Says: Founded also around the same time as the castle just acros the park, Athenry Priory is the last home to Meiler de Bermingham, the Baron of Athenry who died in battle at Cashel and his body brought back and buried inside near the altar. The Priory was not finished before 1261...
pfsmalo Says: Built by Meiler de Bermingham at the ford on the Clareen river, from where Athenry gets its name, the castle is one of the finest examples of 13th c tower houses or keeps in the country. It took two hundred years to get round to lifting it it to its present four stories...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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
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...
2 Reviews and 139 Opinions Just outside the town of Athenry, this hotel is a great location for exploring County Galway. It's...
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Pleasant pub, good reasonably-priced food (soup is home-made). Guinness good too. Smoking area outside (with heaters).
Written Feb 17, 2006
Address: Main street, Athenry.
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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 family roots and never left.
Dress Code: Dress nice casual. No sneakers or torn clothing. Look like a respectable citizen.
Updated Jun 3, 2005
Address: Davis Str. Athenry CO. Galway (Hop Inn)
Phone: 353 (0)91 844205
Website: http://www.athenry.net/hopinn/
On the inter-city route from Dublin
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...
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.
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.
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...
Don't miss looking at the train station.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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Favorite thing: '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 become embedded into the 'celtic cultural landscape'. It is song ( like 'Galway bay' as well) that Irish mothers will be singing to the offspring for decades to come.
The text is below - and I'm sure you are savvy enough (unlike me) to find somewhere to download it properly and hear it sung. Looking out from the top of the castle in Athenry with the song on your i-pod would no doubt be the perfect way to experience the town.
Fields Of Athenry
Low lie the fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing
We had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry
By a lonely prison wall I heard a young girl calling
Michael they are taking you away
For you stole Trevelyan's corn so the young might see the morn
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay
By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young man calling
Nothing matters, Mary, when you're free
Against the famine and the Crown I rebelled, they caught me down
Now you must raise our child with dignity
By a lonely harbour wall, she watched the last star falling
As the prison ship sailed out against the sky
For she'll live in hope and pray for her love in Botany Bay
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry
Updated Nov 15, 2010
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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.
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...
'The Fields of Athenry...............
.........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......
Lying just off the the M6 motorway from Galway to Dublin is Athenry, most famously known for the song "The fields of Athenry", written in 1979 but recorded by some of Irelands most famous bands and......
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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