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Athlone Castle - Athlone, Co Westmeath |
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Athlone Castle built in the 13th century
on the Shannon. Athlone Castle now includes audio-visual
presentations on the flora, fauna and the power resources of the
area. Also open to visitors is
the museum, coffee shop and tourist
office. |
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Moydrum Castle ruins,
Athlone, Co Westmeath |
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Moydrum Castle is a fine example of the
mock-castle, a style beloved by the
Gothic Revival school of Francis
Johnston, the Morrisons and others in
the early years of the 19th century. The
original Irish name for the locality was
Moidrome – Magh Droma, "plain of the
ridge". The Handcocks obtained a grant
of 5,500 acres in 1680, which formed the
Manor of Twyford, and they continued as
large land and property owners in
Athlone until the 20th century. Moydrum
Castle has featured on a U2 CD cover. |
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Portlick Castle,
Athlone, Co Westmeath |
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Portlick Castle is a 12th century Dillon
Castle located on the shores of Lough
Ree with 30 acres of walled gardens,
wooded areas and pasture land. The
castle and period extensions have all
been extensively renovated to a very
high standard. It is the only Medieval
castle in Ireland which has been used
perpetually as a residence. The Norman
family of De Lion (later called Dillon),
under the charter of King John, built
Portlick Castle in 1185. The family were
devout Catholics who fought in the Irish
rebellion. Although banished for a time
to Connacht by Cromwell, they did not
leave their home for good until 1696. |
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Tullynally Castle & Gardens
- Castlepollard,
Co Westmeath |
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Tullynally Castle and Gardens has been
home to the Pakenhan family since the
17th century. The castle, still lived in
by the family today, has been the home
to the Earls of Longford for more than
350 years. Built in the 17th century,
the house was designed as a Georgian
mansion, and later, as a Gothic revival
castle. The castle offers guided tours
of the unique collection of furniture
and pictures, the Victorian kitchen and
laundries, and the gardens. The gardens
are made up of numerous smaller gardens
and ponds such as the Woodland Garden,
the River Sham, the Flower Garden, the
Kitchen Garden, the Swan Pool, and the
Grotto Path. |
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Crookedwood most 7 miles from
Mullingar, dates back to the old legends of Fionn and the Fianna. A
14th century stone roofed church, called the Church of Taughmon can be
found here and behind it lies a ring fort. If you return to the main
road and take the direction of Castlepollard, you can see Lough
Derravaragh, associated with the legend of "The Children of Lir"
changed into swans for 900 years by their jealous stepmother, they
spent 300 years of that time on this lake.
Fore Abbey & Church. The Christian monastery
at Fore was founded by Saint Feichin in 630AD, St Feichin died of yellow
plague in the 660s, at that time it's believed there were up to 300
monks in the monastery. Between 771 and 1169 Fore was burned at least
twelve times. Around 1200 Norman landlords the De Lacys built a
Benedictine Priory dedicated to Saint Feichin and St Taurin.
Irish High Cross of Bealin now situated on a small
hillock in Twyford Demesne, Co Westmeath.
Multyfarnham Franciscan Friary In the present
friary church parts of a 15th century church survive, including the
nave, south transept and tower, as well as the south window (though not
its glass). Nothing remains of the chancel or of the original domestic
buildings. The church was given its present form in 1827 when the
Franciscans returned to their old monastery. |