The Church of SS Peter & Pauls
The Connaught side was a hive of bustling activity with St. Peters at the epicentre in the Square. St. Peter's church was originally on the Dean Crowe Theatre site. It was built in two phases, the first as early as 1795 when it would have been no more than a small chapel; it was then enlarged in 1809.
This building served as the parish church until the completion of SS. Peter & Paul's church in the Square in 1937 under the stewardship of Dean John Crowe. There are some interesting statistics referring to the building of the new church in 1937.
The church was built at a cost of over 120,000 (pounds).
The general contractor for the building was James J. Flynn of Thomas Street, Dublin and the following were the principal sub-contractors: -


Portland Stone Maguire & Short, Dublin
Granite Work Ostorno & Brady, Dublin Piling Work Irish Piling Co., 3 Lr. Abbey St.
Steel Work & Bronze Windows J & C McGlouglin, Dublin
Plaster Work John Ryan & Co., Ltd., Dublin Marble
Columns & Plinths Irish Marble Industries, Galway
Copper Roofing Messrs. Ewart & Sons, London Wood
Block Flooring & Tiling Messrs. O'Hara & Co., Dublin
Rubber Flooring Leyland Rubber Co., Dublin Organ Messrs. Gray & Davidson, London
Electric Heating & Lighting The Bective Electrical Co., Dublin Seating Messrs. Hearne & Co., Ltd.,W'Hampton
Confessionals Messrs. Bull & Co., Dublin
High Altar & Ciborium Messrs. Dinelli, Pietrasanta, Italy
Sacred Heart & Blessed Virgin Altars Messrs. Dinelli, Pietrasanta,
Italy Flooring of Sanctuary Messrs. Dinelli, Pietrasanta,
Italy Mosaic Pictures Messrs. Dinelli, Pietrasanta,
Italy Altar Rail & Pulpit Messrs. Dinelli, Pietrasanta,
Italy Marble Statues Messrs. Dinelli, Pietrasanta,
Italy Stained Glass Window, Priests' Sacristy Miss Purser, Dublin
Stained Glass Window in Mortuary Messrs. Early & Co., Dublin
Clerestory Windows & Side Chapels Messrs. Harry Clarke,
Stained Glass Boys' Sacristy Windows Studios, Dublin
Consultants for Electrical Work Messrs. J. P. Tierney & Co., Dublin
Consultants for Piling Work Messrs. Delap & Waller,
Dublin Consultant for Acoustic Work Hop Bagenal Esq., F.R.I.R.A., London
Quality Surveyors Messrs. Mossis & Kavanagh, Dublin
Clerk of Work Mr. P. J. Faherty
Architects Messrs. William H. Byrne & Sons, Dublin.

We know that the priory of Saints Peter and Paul existed at Athlone before 1200. There is a tradition, recorded by a seventeenth century author, that Toirrdelbach Ua Conchobair founded it about 1150, as part of a twelfth century ecclesiastical reform movement.

Abbey Lane near the castle takes its name from this Cluniac Priory that was built here in the twelfth century, known as The Priory of SS. Peter and Paul or de Innocentia, it was unique in being the only foundation of the Cluniac foundation in Ireland.

At the end of the middle ages, it comprised a church of single nave and transept, with a tower, cloister and conventional buildings.

The Battery Bridge- The Canal
The bridge is a good vantage point from which to survey the site of the batteries and the canal. The original bridge of masonry construction was designed by Thomas Omer, the engineer responsible for the cutting of Athlone Canal in 1757. The Athlone Canal marked the first attempts to make the River Shannon fully navigable at Athlone. It was the mid nineteenth century before this actually happened, with the completion of the Shannon Navigation works.

The Batteries
Looking towards the buildings that once were high rise developments we see the site of the main Batteries. Because of the strategic position of the Athlone, one of the principal crossing points of the middle of the Shannon, it was realised towards the end of the eighteenth century that the defenses of the town should be provided.

Following the outbreak of war with the French Republic in 1793 and the attempted landing of the French at Bantry Bay in 1796, a total of eight Batteries were constructed on the western edge of Athlone. All but a small portion of the No.1 battery have been destroyed. So while little remains to be seen the place itself is steeped in history and the name the Batteries is applied to an area which was formerly called Spa Park.

This was also the location of the original Athlone Golf Club originally known as Athlone Garrison Club. At this time the land in the Batteries was poor with restricted grass growth and was seen as an ideal place to play golf. Quick to realise this, the officers of the garrison formed a club and laid out a golf course. According to The Golfing Annual published in 1896 the Athlone Garrison Golf Club was founded in 1892. This is the only evidence available.

There are no records of the 'founding fathers'. With the arrival of major Harrison of the Royal Artillery to Athlone in 1895, that the Athlone Garrison Golf Club really started to prosper. He was appointed president of the club in 1896 and held that post until 1899. An enthusiastic golfer he played a vital part in the nurturing of the game in those years.

It is of interest to note that many of the townspeople who were to play important roles in the golf club in the ensuing years were at this time (1893/94) actively associated with various sports organisations in the town. These included Mr. Baile, MA, P.V.C. Murtagh, J. Lyster JP, Dr. C. J. McCormack, J. J. Coen and others. Along with the golf course the Batteries was also a place of general recreation, but all of this was to come to an end when the death knell was sounded at the October 1913 meeting of the Urban District Council. The clerk announced that the agent had agreed to the council acquiring the interests of the golf club - compulsory powers would be used and the price fixed, plans were being prepared. The councillors had at last been successful in their campaign for housing on the Batteries. In 1920 the golf club relocated to Garnafailagh. In 1938 the golf club made its last move to Hodson Bay where it still stands.

The Shamrock Lodge
To the South, on the right of the canal, set in a wooded site is the Shamrock Lodge County House Hotel. It was once the residence of a branch of the Robinson family, prominent brewers and distillers in the nineteenth century Athlone.

The gardens were developed and the house extended by the Coen family who first opened it as a hotel. Among the distinguished guests who dined there were Princess Grace of Monaco and Queen Salote of Tonga.

Connaught Street
One of the great streets of old Athlone, Connaught Street, is now in need of major re-investment but at one time it vied with Church Street as the major business street in the town. Many of the old business houses were run by wealthy farming families from south Roscommon who established their businesses here. It boasts many interesting shop-fronts, sadly fast disappearing. The old 'Noggin Inn' doorway with its columns and fine fanlight is one of the architectural gems of old athlone.

Connaught Street has important literary links with the novelist John Broderick and the poet Desmond Egan who were both natives of the street, and both of whom have written about Connaught Street.

Dean Crowe Memorial Theatre
Built in 1800 this building served as the parish church until the new church of SS. Peter and Paul was completed in 1937. The altar placed against the wall in the middle of the building, seating on three sides, with three galleries overhead.

In 1937 the church was converted to use as a parochial hall and given the name of the much loved parish priest. Initially it was used as a dance hall, but in recent years it has been used for plays, concerts and recitals. Since 1959 the All-Ireland Amateur Drama Festival has been held there each year. It was officially opened as a Theatre & Arts Centre in October 2002.