Athlone
| Athlone Áth Luain Athlone |
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| Coordinates | 53 ° 25 ′ N , 7 ° 57 ′ W | ||
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Motto "Urbes Stant Legibus" |
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| Country | Ireland | ||
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| ISO 3166-2 | IE | ||
| height | 56 m | ||
| Residents | 21,349 (2016) | ||
| Website | www.athlone.ie (English) | ||
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The Irish city of Athlone ( Irish : Áth Luain ( spoken: / 'a h ' lu: ə n´ /) or Baile Átha Luain (spoken: / 'bal´a'lu: ə n´ /)) had 21,349 in the 2016 census Residents, making it the second most populous place in the Irish Midlands after Port Laoise .
Athlone is located on the Shannon River and the southern end of the reed-covered Lough Ree , about 130 km west of Dublin . Historically, the river forms the border between the Province of Leinster with County Westmeath in the east and the Province of Connacht with County Roscommon in the west. However, by the Local Government Act of 1898, the entire city area, including the districts west of the Shannon, was assigned to County Westmeath.
Athlone is almost in the geographical center of Ireland .
Athlone (Áth = ford) is a traffic junction and has been the most important crossing over the Shannon since ancient times. Today the roads N6 in east-west direction and N61 and N62 in north-south direction cross here. Today the city is of particular importance for Shannon shipping.
history
In the center of the city is Athlone Castle , which today houses the local tourist office . Athlone Castle was first built in the 13th century AD. The castle was often fought over over the centuries and was destroyed and rebuilt several times. In 1697, for example, a lightning strike in the powder magazine destroyed the entire castle and 64 surrounding buildings.
To the east of the city you can still find an intact house from the time of the Great Famine , St. Mary's Hall, which now serves as a hostel for youth groups. Originally there was an abbey here, from which the settlement of Athlones originated.
On the west bank of the Shannon is the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul.
The Sean's Bar , is not just to be the oldest bar in Ireland but all over the world a pub in the Irish town of Athlone, who claimed for themselves. Archaeological finds date from the year 900.
School, education, industry
The State Examinations Commission , which organizes the central school examinations Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate , and the Athlone Institute of Technology are located in the eastern part of Athlone .
In October 2004 a new, very modern library was opened.
International companies such as B. Ericsson are among the largest employers.
Broadcasting station
The first major station in Ireland went into operation in Athlone in 1933. He uses a T-antenna as a transmitting antenna.
Town twinning
Since 1975 there has been a town partnership with the French Châteaubriant .
Personalities
sons and daughters of the town
- Raymond Browne (born 1957), Bishop of Kerry,
- Michael Joseph Curley (1879–1947), Archbishop of Baltimore
- Seán Fallon (1937–1995), politician
- John McCormack (1884-1945), tenor
- Mary O'Rourke (born 1937), politician
- Richard Rothwell (1800–1868), painter
Personalities who have worked on site
- Richard and Grizel Steevens lived here after their father fled England from Oliver Cromwell . He worked at St. Mary's Church.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Athlone (agglomeration) on citypopulation.de, accessed on August 23, 2018