The Siege of Athlone took place here. Wits say that Athlone is the dead centre of Ireland, with dead being the operative word. However recent developments including the Golden Island shopping centre have made a big improvement to the range of activites available to residents.
The name Athlone is generally pronounced as Ah-loan by natives.
Nearby are Moate on the Dublin road, Ballinasloe on the Galway road, and Tang on the road to Ballymahon, county Longford.