Begin your Athy walking tour at Market Square, the vibrant heart of this historic Kildare town, where you can enjoy a hearty lunch at Clancy’s Bar & Restaurant on Leinster Street. This traditional pub serves up classic Irish dishes like beef and Guinness stew or fresh fish, affordable, no bookings needed for small groups, but arrive early to beat the Saturday lunch crowd.
Stroll along Duke Street to White’s Castle, a formidable 15th-century tower house by the River Barrow, its sturdy stone walls evoking the timeless grandeur of a historical painting. From there, wander up Emily Square to Athy Heritage Centre-Museum, a cultural gem housed in a historic courthouse, offering insights into the town’s past and the life of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton, perfect for a quick historical pause.
Next, head towards Leinster Street and pop into The Coffee Dock for a rich hot chocolate or artisan coffee. If you’re after something more upscale, The Bay Tree on Stanhope Street offers refined dining with local ingredients in an elegant setting.
Finish your walk by looping to Crom-a-Boo Bridge, a short stroll via Duke Street, where a scenic path along the River Barrow offers a serene end to your tour. Take a moment at the Ernest Shackleton Statue in Emily Square, a tribute to Athy’s famous son. Then enter the new Shackleton exhibition, because, as the famous Antarctic saying goes, you may be some time. This 1-2 mile route captures Athy’s historic charm, local eats, and riverside beauty.
Ireland county by county
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Largest town walking tour
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Towns
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Villages
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
Ireland’s County Kildare:
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles– Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels top 8 – Hunting & shooting – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Music – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Songs – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
