Athlone owes its existence to its situation as the principle crossing point on the middle Shannon. The town links the east of Ireland with the west and the river provides an artery of communications with north Munster and the north Midlands. It is a thriving town at the geographical centre of Ireland and has the social and economic hub of a large hinterland. The history of Athlone is very much the history of its castles and bridges and because of its strategic location it has been of great military importance from the earliest times. Its most famous siege was in 1691 when the town was attacked by the Williamite army.
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