Substantial works and investment continue at Athlone Castle, including:

• Conservation and repair works to the Castle Keep in collaboration with the Office of Public Works;
• Public realm works in front of the Castle, funded by Fáilte Ireland, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the Office of Public Works and Westmeath County Council; and
• Necessary improvement works at the site are part of a € 4 million redevelopment project, supported by €3.2 million in funding through Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, co-funded by the EU and the Government of Ireland under the EU Just Transition Fund.

All projects are running concurrently, with the public realm works and the works on the Keep due to conclude over the summer.

The Just Transition redevelopment project provides for a reconfiguration of the visitor centre layout and interpretation, and enhancements to the courtyard, reception and retail areas.

The reopening is likely to extend into 2027, with a view to welcoming visitors back to Athlone Castle for the 2027 tourist season. We will share updates throughout the project and in advance of reopening on our social and web platforms.

While the Visitor Centre is temporarily closed, there’s still so much to enjoy in Athlone. We encourage you to explore everything the town and surrounding areas have to offer and plan your visit at: athlone.ie | visitwestmeath.ie | discoverireland.ie

We apologise for any inconvenience this temporary closure may cause and thank you for your continued support.

 

This project is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund

Athlone Castle presents events to celebrate Ireland’s cultural, built and natural heritage during National Heritage Week 2026

Athlone Castle Visitor Centre will present an exciting series of events during National Heritage Week 2026. This year’s events will explore the preservation of Irish heritage by making history and heritage accessible to all ages.

Athlone Castle team will share ways to preserve local knowledge and history during Documenting Athlone Castle’s Collection workshops on Saturday 15th of August at Abbey Road Artists’ Studios. Hands-on workshops will take place throughout the day to suit different age groups. Workshops for children aged seven to twelve years will take place from 11 am to 12:30 pm, for teenagers aged thirteen to seventeen from 1:30 pm to 3 pm, and for participants aged eighteen onwards from 3:30 pm to 5 pm.

During each session, participants will learn how museum collections are monitored and catalogued by handling artefacts safely, photographing and measuring objects, recording materials and condition, and writing catalogue entries for inclusion in a digital collections catalogue. These workshops aim to provide a fascinating insight into the work involved in preserving Athlone’s tangible heritage for future generations. Places for these free workshops are limited, so booking in advance is required. Visit www.athlonecastle.ie/events for more information.

On Sunday 23rd August 2026, Athlone Castle will host Checkmate! An Epic Live Chess Battle Between the Connaught and Leinster Sides of Athlone. This free event aims to bring the ancient game of chess to life for a modern audience. The location at the public park at Abbey Road Graveyard is located near Athlone Castle and the River Shannon. This symbolic setting, linking landscape, history, and community, provides the ideal backdrop to reimagine Athlone’s friendly Connaught–Leinster rivalry. Local children aged seven to fourteen are invited to sign up to participate in the event, during which they will don medieval-style costume props and step onto the board as life-size pieces, directed by youth players from Athlone-based clubs.

The Castle team is delighted to collaborate with Jonathan O’Connor, CC-IM, Chess Bud Partner, Chess Coach & Irish Senior Champion, who will be on-hand on the day to guide and speculate on what promises to be a dramatic contest of strategy and skill. Once checkmate is declared, spectators will be invited to step forward and play their own games, either on the life-size chessboard or at standard chess stations in the area.

Booking in advance at www.athlonecastle.ie/events is required only for children who wish to take part as the live chess pieces. This project has been supported with funding from The Heritage Council

For further details on events and bookings, visit www.athlonecastle.ie/events

Athlone Castle, Luan Gallery, and Abbey Road Artists’ Studios are delighted to present Threads of Place Community Exhibition, showcasing work created by local participants during the Threads of Place community project.

The exhibition will take place in two venues, Abbey Road Artists’ Studios Community Space and the Boardwalk Gallery at Luan Gallery and will be open to the public on Saturday 1 August from 11 am to 5 pm, and Sunday 2 August, from 12 pm to 5 pm. Admission is free, and all are welcome.

Threads of Place is a creative collaboration between Athlone Castle Visitor Centre, Luan Gallery and Abbey Road Artists’ Studios. Through a series of artist-led drawing events, the project invited people of all ages from local communities to explore Athlone’s rich cultural and historical heritage through creative practice.

The project brought local community groups, artists, historians, amateur actors, adults and young people together to explore significant heritage sites through drawing-based practice. The project connected key moments in Athlone’s history from the Siege of Athlone through to the early twentieth century while engaging with histories of local sites such as the former Athlone Workhouse and the neighbouring Franciscan Abbey ruins. At its core, the project aimed to widen access to the visual arts, support inclusive participation, and foster social connection, learning, and well-being through shared creative activity. The resulting exhibition brings together a collection of these diverse community responses, offering a collective portrait of place shaped through observation, memory, and shared experience.

Threads of Place is supported by Westmeath Arts Office and Creative Ireland 2026 Community Grant.

Athlone Castle Visitor Centre will close to the public from Sunday, 19 October 2025, to allow for redevelopment works.

Westmeath County Council is undertaking necessary improvement works at the site as part of a redevelopment project, supported by €3.2 million in funding through Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, co-funded by the EU and the Government of Ireland under the EU Just Transition Fund.

The project will focus on revitalising Athlone Castle to provide a more enhanced visitor experience. Works will include significant upgrades to ageing utilities and mechanical systems, a reconfiguration of visitor centre layout and interpretation, and enhancements to the courtyard, reception and retail areas.

The anticipated reopening is Autumn 2026, although this date is subject to confirmation. We will share updates throughout the project and in advance of reopening on our social and web platforms.

While the Visitor Centre is temporarily closed, there’s still so much to enjoy in Athlone:

• Experience exhibitions and events at Luan Gallery, the Dean Crowe Theatre, and Athlone Little Theatre
• Take a river cruise or enjoy water activities, a variety of leisure sports and the cycleway
• Discover great shopping, guided walking tours, and local heritage
• Dine in fabulous restaurants and experience Athlone’s bustling nightlife
• Choose from a range of excellent accommodation options

Plan your visit at: athlone.ie | visitwestmeath.ie | discoverireland.ie

We apologise for any inconvenience this temporary closure may cause and thank you for your continued support.

Athlone Castle Board of Directors & Management Team

 

This project is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund

Athlone Castle, Luan Gallery and Abbey Road Artists’ Studios will once again open their doors to welcome all those interested in exploring our arts and heritage sites this Culture Night which takes place on Friday 19th September.

Culture night activities will commence with free entry to Athlone Castle Visitor Centre  between 5.30pm and 8:30pm. There will be two guided tours of the Visitor Centre, Historical Garden and Wildflower Meadow beginning at 6pm and 7pm respectively.

Visitors also have the option to explore the Castle’s incredible story from 1210 to modern times as a self-guided experience, with the help of interactive exhibitions and a diverse array of artefacts – and have some fun dressing up in a selection of medieval costumes! Visitors can enjoy playing a selection of popular traditional games in the Courtyard area, as well as enjoy the views of the River Shannon from the Upper and Lower Battlement areas.

Tour places are limited and will be taken on a first-come first-served basis. For any queries, please email [email protected] or call Athlone Castle at 090 6442130.

Culture Night will be an opportunity to meet Westmeath Artist Awards 2024 awardee and resident artist Amanda Ralph in Abbey Road Artists’ Studios who will host an open studio from 6pm to 8pm. Amanda will provide a unique, behind-the-scenes view of her practice and will showcase some of her existing artwork and work in progress. She will also be available to explain what inspires her and her work to visiting members of the public. Studio visits will be facilitated in an open-door manner on a first come first served basis. For further information on the artists and their studio practice contact Luan Gallery on email: [email protected] or call Luan Gallery on 090 6442154.

Athlone Photography Club will host an exhibition of photographic works captured by their members in the first-floor community space in Abbey Road. The exhibition ‘The People of Athlone – Volume 1’ will open at 7pm with speeches and wine reception and all are invited to attend.

The People of Athlone is a powerful photography exhibition celebrating the richness, diversity, and character of the town’s people. The exhibition captures individuals in their everyday surroundings—at work, at home, or in spaces that reflect who they are. From shopkeepers and musicians to tradespeople and lecturers, this project honours the individuals who form the fabric of Athlone.

Luan Gallery will extend its opening hours until 8:30pm on Culture Night, inviting the public to experience its current exhibition, SYSTEM ARMING. This dynamic group exhibition explores digital technologies, artificial intelligence, transhumanism, and contemporary power structures through sculpture, film, and installation.

From 5:00pm to 8:00pm, visitors can drop into Forging the Future: Tools for Resistance & Protection, a hands-on sculpture workshop suitable for all ages (under 18s must be accompanied by a guardian). Inspired by the themes explored in Luan Gallery’s exhibition SYSTEM ARMING, the workshop invites participants to imagine what tools might be needed in a future shaped by powerful technologies — tools to protect freedom, outsmart machines, or reclaim human agency. Using natural materials and recycled e-waste, participants will create symbolic artefacts, from enchanted staffs and striking swords to protective talismans. No previous experience is required.

At 6:00pm, a child-friendly tour of SYSTEM ARMING will introduce younger audiences to the exhibition’s themes in an engaging and accessible way. Later in the evening, at 7:30pm, Luan Gallery curator Aoife Banks will lead a Curator’s Tour of the exhibition, offering deeper insights into the works on display and the questions they raise about technology, power, and resilience.

Luan Gallery looks forward to welcoming visitors of all ages for an evening of creativity, reflection, and community as part of this year’s Culture Night celebrations.

Culture Night is an innovative public event taking place nationwide that invites people to spend their evening exploring the best cultural offerings available to them on their doorstep. With museums, galleries and artists’ studios extending their opening hours all around the country, Culture Night is the perfect opportunity to visit sites that you may ordinarily miss out on due to your work schedule.

Athlone Arts and Tourism looks forward to welcoming the public to this celebration of culture! For further information and bookings please contact Athlone Castle on 090 6442130 or Luan Gallery on 090 6442154.

Athlone Castle Visitor Centre is proud to present a vibrant and engaging programme for National Heritage Week 2025, running from Saturday 16th August to Sunday 24th August. This year’s nationwide theme celebrates the richness of craftsmanship, historical knowledge, and shared heritage, and Athlone Castle is marking the occasion with events designed to inspire, educate and delight visitors of all ages.

Funded by the Heritage Council through the Irish Walled Towns Network 2025 Interpretation Fund, this exciting programme weaves together stories of medieval tradition, community life, and sustainable heritage practices.

The programme kicks off with the return of the much-loved ‘Storm the Castle’ event on Saturday 16th August, offering free admission for all. From 10:30am to 5:30pm, Athlone Castle’s courtyard will be transformed into a bustling medieval village, alive with craftspeople, musicians, and living history enthusiasts.

Visitors will experience;
• Live combat demonstrations, jousting, fencing, and medieval cooking, calligraphy, nail binding, costume-making, and herbal medicine practices by the Society for Creative Anachronism
• Live medieval music and dance from the Red Earl’s Consort
• Wickerwork crafts by Westcountry Willows
• Traditional longbow-making by archer Jack Pinson
• Pole-lathe woodturning by Steve Ryan
• Spinning, dyeing, and weaving with Sandra King of Irish Fibre Crafters
• Leatherworking by Fabian Ragnar Craft
• Historical artefacts and weapons from Viking to medieval Ireland, presented by Dave Swift of Claíomh
• Tóla Collier of Laoch Living History portraying a medieval barber-surgeon

Visitors will be invited to try on period costumes provided by Athlone Castle and explore the Visitor Centre in true medieval fashion. Admission to the event will be free for all visitors and will start from 10.30am to 5.30pm.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to try on authentic period costumes and explore the Visitor Centre through the lens of the Middle Ages.

In the run-up to the event, Athlone Castle collaborated with the Athlone Family Resource Centre and Gateway Youth Project to host children’s creative workshops, led by artist Aoife Doolan of Abbey Road Artists’ Studios. Young participants designed and crafted their medieval armour and weapons, which they are encouraged to showcase during the open day.

“Heritage Week is a special opportunity to connect people of all ages with Ireland’s rich cultural and historical legacy. We are thrilled to welcome visitors back to ‘Storm the Castle’ for a day of unforgettable family-friendly fun,” said Carmel Duffy, Manager, Athlone Castle. “This event brings history to life in an exciting and engaging way. Whether you’re a history buff, a family looking for a unique day out, or someone simply curious about Ireland’s medieval heritage, ‘Storm the Castle’ promises an unforgettable experience — and it’s all completely free.”

Throughout Heritage Week, visitors can also enjoy ‘GUIDED TOURS OF ATHLONE CASTLE AND HISTORICAL GARDEN’, a unique opportunity to explore the evolution of the castle through the centuries and its Middle Ages-inspired Historical Garden. Led by expert guides, these tours offer insight into the legacy of native herbs and plants in medieval daily life, the role of medieval gardens in daily life, and the importance of pollinator-friendly gardening in today’s sustainability efforts.

Tours are available throughout the week, and pre-booking online is essential as places are limited. Guided Tours are included with standard admission, but pre-booking is essential due to limited capacity. Book online at: www.athlonecastle.ie/events

All the 2025 Heritage Week events at Athlone Castle, County Westmeath are supported by the Heritage Council under the Irish Walled Towns Network 2025 Interpretation Fund. For further details on events and bookings, visit www.athlonecastle.ie/events

Young Knights and Warrior Princesses Wanted!

In preparation for the annual ‘STORM THE CASTLE’ Open Day, Athlone Castle invites the young knights and warrior princesses of Athlone to join Aoife Doolan, resident artist at Abbey Road Studios, for a very special arts and crafts workshop.

Children will get to express their creative sides by designing and decorating their own suits of armour, which they can wear during Storm the Castle Open Day in August and become part of the medieval magic of the day.

The workshops will take place on Friday, 8th August in the upstairs Community Space at Abbey Road Artist Studios, Abbey Road, Athlone. The first workshop will take place from 11am-1pm, and the second from 2:30pm-4:30pm. These workshops are free of charge, but booking is essential as places are limited.

This event is part of Athlone Castle’s Heritage Week 2025 Programme, supported by the Heritage Council under the Irish Walled Towns Network 2025 Interpretation Fund.

For more information and to book, please check our events section on www.athlonecastle.ie

Athlone Castle will host a “From Garden to Runway” Free Fashion Show Event for children in celebration of Cruinniú na nÓg on Saturday 7th June 2025 in the castle courtyard at 3 pm.

This special event is part of the national Cruinniú na nÓg programme of activities. This annual event is a day dedicated to enabling children’s and young people’s creative potential. The Fashion Show is a collaboration between Athlone Castle and Luan Gallery and is presented with support from Creative Ireland and Westmeath County Council.

In recent weeks, Athlone Castle and Luan Gallery hosted costume-making workshops for local children focused on sustainability and the costumes were inspired by the Historical Garden in the upper battlements of Athlone Castle. Abbey Road Resident artists, Niamh Butler and Aoife Doolan, facilitated these workshops, with assistance from Transition Year students from Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone, who were involved in Junk Kouture.

The children who participated in the workshops will showcase their designs at a fashion show titled “From Garden to Runway” on Saturday 7th June in the Athlone Castle Courtyard at 3 pm. The event will also feature live performances by talented local youth musicians from the Féile na Sionainne festival, and special guest John McGlynn, Manager of The Deane Crowe Theatre, who will serve as Compere and Master of Ceremonies for the afternoon’s festivities. To conclude this creative journey, photos captured by amateur photographer Chris Burke during the workshops and fashion show will be exhibited in the Garden to Gallery Exhibition at Luan Gallery starting Saturday 2nd August.

The fashion show event is free, but it does not include access to the Athlone Castle Visitor Centre. For further information, please contact [email protected] or call 090 64 42130.

Free Workshop Slots Available: Saturday 17th, and 24th May from 2 to 5pm
Fashion Show: Saturday 7th June 2025

Athlone Castle, Luan Gallery, and Abbey Road Artists’ Studios are delighted to announce, Garden to Runway, a vibrant programme of events surrounding this year’s Cruinniú na nÓg, funded by Creative Ireland.

Children and young people are invited to participate in an exciting, creative experience that combines fashion, sustainability, and art. Garden to Runway, presented by Athlone Arts and Tourism for Cruinniú na nÓg 2025, offers participants the opportunity to design and create their costume, model it in a vibrant fashion show at Athlone Castle on Saturday 7th June, and have their work professionally photographed and exhibited at Luan Gallery on Saturday 2nd August.

Children aged 9-15 are invited to participate in a Free hands-on workshop led by local artists Niamh Butler and Aoife Doolan. Participants will design and craft unique costumes inspired by the rich beauty of the Historical Garden at Athlone Castle, using recycled and sustainable materials. Workshop slots are available on Saturday 17th and 24th May from 2 to 5 pm. Workshops are Free, but pre-booking is essential.

Workshop participants will then have the opportunity to showcase their designs on Saturday 7th June at the National Cruinniú na nÓg Garden to Runway Fashion Show, held in the courtyard of Athlone Castle. Here, the young designers will take centre stage, proudly showcasing their creations in front of friends, family, and the community. The event will feature live musical performances by talented youth musicians from the Féile na Sionainne festival, and a special guest will host the afternoon of festivities as Master of Ceremonies.

To round off this creative journey, photos taken by photographer Chris Burke during workshops and the fashion show will be displayed in the Garden to Gallery Exhibition at Luan Gallery on Saturday 2nd August.

For more information and to book, please check our events section on www.athlonecastle.ie

To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, we are offering 20% OFF individual admissions to Athlone Castle Visitor Centre on Monday 17th of March.

To redeem this offer, use code: GREEN25 when booking online.