Relax and reconnect with friends this Bank Holiday Weekend
This summer it’s all about taking time for you. Time to relax and time to reconnect with friends. Make it your time to rediscover Ireland – there’s so much on offer to make your weekend one to remember.
Athlone, the dead centre of Ireland as the local brewery proudly states, is truly the ideal location for your weekend away. It’s a great base to explore the surrounding area with many exciting attractions and activities. Everything you want is within easy reach and the gorgeous medieval town core boasts an excellent choice of eateries and shopping choices.
So, get a group together and make a weekend of it in Athlone. Stay in the town centre or take it easy in a rural idyll. Relax, catch up and enjoy the sights. Catch up with friends over lunch and choose from a host of award-winning restaurants. Book a bespoke day tour or a wonderful whiskey walking tour, check out the castle and enjoy all the arts and culture this midland town has to offer.
Cuisine in Athlone is a mini world tour of ethnic options plus all that’s best from the local area. You’ll enjoy a wide range of award-winning food establishments for you and your friends to choose from. From laid back cafes for a quick bite during the day to a more formal setting for dinner, you won’t be disappointed with Athlone’s extensive food offering.
A day tour is a lovely way to relax and discover the local area while someone else does the navigating! Heart of Ireland Tours are a family business with over thirty years’ experience in travel and tourism in Ireland. Depending on the tour you book, you can experience authentic Irish culture, castles, ancient Celtic sites, myths and legends or historic houses and gardens. Choose from a range of tours including a day tour from Athlone featuring everything Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands has to offer. Discover unique sites and enjoy a day combining the heritage, landscape, local produce and activities around the River Shannon. For more on local tours visit here.
Image – Heart of Ireland Tours
Athlone Whiskey Walking Tour is a fascinating way to spend an afternoon delving into 270 years of whiskey heritage. Needless to say, the tour involves sampling local whiskeys while learning about Athlone’s distilling tradition including the distillers, brewers and town bailiffs of the past.
If arts and culture is your area of interest, don’t miss Athlone Castle and Visitor Centre. Explore 5,000 years of history and discover intriguing elements of the original castle. Filled with modern exhibitions, the history of Athlone is explored and brought to life.
Image – Athlone Castle
The dedicated art space of Luan Gallery along the River Shannon boasts an eclectic mix of high quality exhibits on display including paintings, sculpture and textiles. Their new exhibition, Crowded Thresholds runs until September 2020 and presents thought-provoking pieces across applied art, design and visual art.
Athlone centre has a great array of retail stores like Burgess’s Department Store, small boutique shops as well as big name shops at Athlone Towncentre and Golden Island Shopping Centre. For more information visit here.
Relax in style and comfort in one of Athlone’s hotels and enjoy top class facilities, fabulous dining options and close proximity to shopping and other attractions. See our list of top hotel packages and offers here.
All you need to do now is get your group together and enjoy the perfect weekend break reconnecting with friends in the heart of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands.