Athlone is located in the centre of Ireland and is renowned for it's location on the banks of the river Shannon which flows through the town centre. In the early thirteenth century the Anglo-Normans built a stone Castle to guard the strategic river crossing to the west of Ireland. Lough Ree just north of the town is one of the largest lakes on the river Shannon and provides the perfect location for water activities such as angling, cruising, water skiing, wind surfing and sailing.

A wide range of amenities and services are available within a 20 mile radius of Athlone town. The town has an extensive variety of restaurants and eateries catering for all tastes and budgets. In recent years it has also become an extremely popular shopping destination with central parking facilities. It boasts a wide variety of visitor attractions and historical sites of note including the instantly recognisable Athlone Castle and Clonmacnoise Monastic Site. Many walking, cycling and driving trails have been developed in recent years for both locals and visitors to enjoy.

Leisure facilities in the area include golf, horse-riding and racing, hunting, tennis, scuba-diving, rowing, sailing, cruising, hockey, camogie, rugby, soccer and gaelic football. Indoor facilities include gyms, swimming pools, bowling, badminton, snooker/pool, indoor soccer, arts, drama and musical societies.