Off to the Emerald Isle again in a couple of weeks for 4 days of nonsense. As it's a short trip we've based at Athlone in the middle to keep our options open.
A man of great taste- that's my part of the country though I'm out of it a long time. Try going to Longford through Ballymahon N55. There is a small hotel in Ballymahon just on the right after you cross the bridge after the church. Cooneys.
Go from Longford to Lanesboro - then Roscommon and back to Athlone.
Should be interesting.
On the way there is a visitor centre near Kenagh which shows an ancient bog road discovered some time ago.
http://www.ancientireland.org/corlea/index.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corlea_Trackway
Glasson on the way, has a few restaurants too. I haven't been but there's always cars parked everywhere so it is popular.
Also N62 to Birr then then the N52 and when you come to the T junction on joining the N65 turn right to go to Portumna. There's a good karting track north of Portumna - Tynagh I think is the spelling.
http://www.pallaskarting.com/
Maybe then head for Bannagher and Cloghan and home.
There's a Hotel in the square in Birr - Dooleys it's ok for bar food etc.
On the N62 after Ballinahown there is a small motor museum in Doon. Not sure of opening hours.
It's a bit weird and slapdash.
Also if you are interested in history there is Clonmacnoise as monastic site which is worth
visiting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clonmacnoise
Also a bog train
http://www.discoverloughderg.ie/ChillOut/VisitorAttractions/BogTrain/ nearby.
http://homepage.eircom.net/~clara/bog.html
The castle in Athlone is worth a visit too.
You could visit the old distillery in Kilbeggan !!!!!!
Go out to the Hodson Bay Hotel if you have time on your hands - right down by the lake.
Out the Roscommon road. Watch for turn right easy to miss.
Athlone was a critical military point at one time.
The 'bridge of Athlone' took many lives.
http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000151559
You aren't a long way from 'the fields of Athenry' Munster's rugby anthem.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fields_of_Athenry