Athlone Castle (Athlone)

 castle, museum, listed building / architectural heritage, historic landmark, visitors center

incorporates Athlone visitor centre and tourism office.

www.athlone.ie/athlone-castle
www.athloneartandheritage.ie/athlone-castle

Freestanding Norman castle, built c.1210, consisting of a polygonal keep with early-nineteenth century machicolations surrounded by a thick rubble limestone curtain wall. Largely rebuilt by British Army between c.1800-1827. In military ownership until 1970, now in use as a museum. The castle was originally founded by John De Gray in 1210 but the extant curtain wall and the bastion towers were originally built at the end of the thirteenth century. The castle was heavily damaged in the 1691 siege and by an accidental explosion in 1697. The castle was described as 'ruinous' in a number of eighteenth century accounts but was repaired and adapted by the British Army during the first decades of the nineteenth century as part of a series of defences along the Shannon to defend against possible French invasion.