Essentials
- City
- Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland
- Population
- 21,349 (2022 Census)
- Internet Speed
- Average 100 Mbps - 1 Gbps via SIRO or Virgin Media fibre
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (€), 1 EUR ≈ 1.08 USD. Local banks include AIB and Bank of Ireland on Church Street.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and safe (Irish Water standards)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK/Ireland three-pin) sockets
- SIM Card
- Three, Vodafone, and Eir (approx. €20/month for unlimited data)
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut (extremely common), N26, or AIB Bank
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Daft.ie (long-term), or local guesthouses like Arch House
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, contactless payments used everywhere from pubs to supermarkets
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb options range from €80 - €150 per night; Hodson Bay Hotel for luxury
- Budget Accommodation
- The Shamrock Lodge Hotel (mid-range approx. €110) or Airbnb private rooms
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- The Left Bank / Latin Quarter (near Athlone Castle and Sean's Bar)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Battery Heights or Monksland for residential quiet and fibre availability
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Junction Business Innovation Centre (Lyster St, approx. €20 per day)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Dead Centre Brewing (waterfront views and fast Wi-Fi) or In its Element
- Networking Events
- Athlone Chamber of Commerce events at the Sheraton Athlone Hotel
- Social Events for Expats
- Athlone Internationals Facebook Group; weekly meetups at Sean's Bar
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- FreeNow (limited) or local Athlone Cabs (090 644 4444)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Buckley Cycles (approx. €25/day for hybrid bikes)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Lough Ree (inland lakeside beaches like Hodson Bay); Atlantic coast (Galway) 1 hour away
- Top Regional Airline
- Aer Lingus Regional (operating from Dublin Airport)
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair (Main hub at Dublin Airport, 1.5 hours away)
- Highway Access
- M6 Motorway (connecting Dublin and Galway)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Athlone Railway Station (Southern Station Road)
- Public Transport Passes
- Leap Card (TFI) used on the A1/A2 local bus routes
- Regional Travel
- Irish Rail (Intercity to Dublin/Galway) and Bus Éireann (Expressway)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Regional Hospital Mullingar (30 mins) or St. Vincent's Care Centre Athlone
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Dancing Soul (Monksland) - drop-in approx. €15
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Athlone Regional Sports Centre (approx. €10 day pass)
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry Basket (Golden Island, approx. €15 for a wash and dry service)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- JustEat.ie and Deliveroo
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Irish Beef Stew at Sean's Bar or fresh trout from Lough Ree
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Thyme Restaurant (high-end locally sourced veg options)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Fine Wine & Food Co. (pastries and cakes) in Burgess Village
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Aldi and Lidl in Golden Island; Athlone Sunday Market
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.co.uk (with customs) or Amazon.de; Currys.ie for tech
- Grocery Delivery
- Tesco Ireland and SuperValu
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The Left Bank (Sean's Bar, Gertrude Gertrude)
- Local Brewery
- Dead Centre Brewing (located on the River Shannon)
- Wine Bars
- The Wine Port Lodge (located just outside in Glasson)
- Street Food Stalls
- Burgess Park weekend markets (seasonal)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Kin Khao Thai Restaurant (Abbey Lane) - Authentic Thai
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Athlone Castle (Entrance €8) and the River Shannon
- Museums & Art Venues
- Luan Gallery (Contemporary Art, free entry)
- Historical Sites
- Clonmacnoise Monastic Site (approx. 20 mins south via boat or road)
- Religious Sites
- SS. Peter & Paul's Church (Iconic twin spires by the river)
- Annual Events
- RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival (May)
- Cultural Districts
- The Latin Quarter (West side of the town)
- Theater Venues
- Dean Crowe Theatre & Arts Centre
- Local Markets
- Athlone Farmers Market (every Saturday at Church Street)
- Music Scene
- Traditional Irish music at Sean's Bar (oldest pub in Ireland)
- Street Art
- Shannon Bridge murals and Luan Gallery murals
- Cooking Classes
- Wineport Lodge occasional culinary workshops
- Art Galleries
- Luan Gallery (St. Peter's Hill)
- Historic Buildings
- Athlone Castle and the Old Workhouse
- Local Heritage
- River Shannon navigation history and Viking tour boats
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Lough Ree (north of town for sailing and fishing)
- National Parks Nearby
- Wicklow Mountains National Park (2 hours) or Wild Nephin (2.5 hours)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Old Rail Trail Greenway (Athlone to Mullingar, 40km of paved path)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The White Bridge overlooking the Shannon at sunset
- Birdwatching Locations
- Shannon Callows (south of the town)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated campfire pits at Lough Ree East Caravan Park
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- An Post (Main Office on Barrack St), DHL, DPD
- Tech Repair Services
- Fonez Athlone (Golden Island Shopping Centre)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Athlone Regional Sports Centre
- Language Classes
- Athlone Training Centre (FETAC courses available)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Athlone Library (Civic Centre, free high-speed Wi-Fi)
- Community Centers
- Athlone Family Resource Centre
- Gaming Lounges
- None; local arcades in Leisure World Athlone
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- The Sands Amusement Centre (Slots and gaming)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €120,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €88,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €168,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,900 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €114,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,600 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €208,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €144,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 12.5% (Standard rate for trading income)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% (Subject to treaty relief)
- Tax System
- Irish Tax System (Domicile and residence based)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 40% (Plus USC and PRSI contributions)
- VAT
- 23% (Standard rate)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, in line with EU ATAD directives
- Property Tax
- Local Property Tax (LPT) based on market value bands
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp Duty: 1% up to €1 million; 2% above that
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- SARP (Special Assignee Relief Programme) for high-earning relocations