A large, ivy-covered stone house with white windows stands on a green lawn under a blue sky.
Burtown House and Gardens in Athy, Co Kildare is a historic stone house with grounds. Courtesy Failte Ireland

Athy – market town where two waterways meet

📍 Athy, Kildare

🏛️ Attraction

Last updated: 20 June 2026

Overview

Athy (Irish: Baile Átha Í) is the rare Irish town where two waterways cross: the River Barrow and the Grand Canal, which meet here in south-west County Kildare, 72 km south-west of Dublin. The town centres on the bridge over the Barrow, with the canal towpath running just to the north. With a 2022 population of 11,035 it is the sixth-largest town in the county, and a natural base for walkers, cyclists and boaters.

River Barrow Blueway
Courtesy Luke Myers

History

The name Athy – ‘the town of Ae’s ford’ – recalls a 2nd-century Celtic chieftain said to have been killed at the river crossing. The town grew from a 12th-century Anglo-Norman settlement under the FitzGerald earls of Kildare. The milestones since:

  • 1417 – the original bridge and White’s Castle were built to guard the crossing.
  • 1640s–1650s – the town changed hands several times during the Confederate Wars; White’s Castle was held by Owen Roe O’Neill in 1648 and later by Cromwell’s forces.
  • 1730s–1740s – the Market House was built for James FitzGerald, 20th Earl of Kildare (later 1st Duke of Leinster). It later served as a courthouse and, after Kildare County Council bought it in 1975, became the Athy Heritage Centre.
  • 1791 – the Grand Canal reached the Barrow at Robertstown, opening a navigable link still in use.
  • 1796 – the present Crom-a-Boo Bridge was laid, its foundation stone set by the Duke of Leinster.
  • 1903 – Athy lay on the route of the Gordon Bennett Cup, the first international motor race in the British Isles, which gave the world British racing green.
  • First World War – the town sent more volunteers than any similarly sized Irish town.
  • 2022 – a mural of polar explorers Ernest Shackleton and Roald Amundsen was unveiled by the Norwegian ambassador.
  • 2024–2025 – the ESB sub-station that blocked the view of the mural was relocated.

Sitting on the edge of the Pale, where Irish, Norman and English mixed, Athy also played a part in the development of Hiberno-English.

What to see and do

Heritage and museums

  • The Shackleton Experience (Shackleton Museum) – in the historic Market House on Emily Square, this redeveloped museum holds a permanent exhibition on Sir Ernest Shackleton, including an original expedition sledge, a large-scale model of the Endurance and immersive digital displays. If you only do one indoor thing in Athy, do this.
    • Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10am–5pm (last admission 4pm); closed Sundays, Mondays and public holidays.
    • Standard ticket prices: Adult €17.00 (€15.00 online) · Senior & Student €15.00 (€14.45 online) · Child (12–17) €13.00 (€12.50 online) · Child (5–11) €11.50 (€11.00 online) · Family (2A+2C) €52.00 (€48.00 online) · Under 5 & carers free.
    • Website: The Shackleton Experience Website
  • Athy Library – housed in the former Dominican Church, serving south Kildare and hosting community exhibitions.

Castles and historic sites

  • White’s Castle – built in 1417 to guard the Barrow bridge; its stone front still dominates the riverside. Note that most of these castles are exterior-only.
  • Kilkea Castle – a short drive north-west, a medieval FitzGerald stronghold now run as a luxury hotel with historic tours.
  • Woodstock Castle – a late-13th-century stone cube on the west bank of the Barrow.
  • Levitstown Mill – a ruined 1791 seven-storey mill with its own jetty.
  • Moat of Ardscull – an 11 m-high 12th-century motte on the R418.
  • Market House / Athy Heritage Centre – the 18th-century corn exchange and courthouse, now the town’s heritage museum.

Outdoor and water activities

Kayaking on the Barrow River
Courtesy of Luke Myers
  • Kayaking on the Barrow – self-guided or guided trips launch from the jetty beside the Shackleton Experience. The calm stretch between Athy and Lowtown suits beginners; stronger paddlers can take on the river’s bends and old weirs.
  • Athy Boat Tours – run by BoatTrips.ie on the wheelchair-accessible ‘Freedom on the Water’ barge.
    • Public tours: 1-hour cruise €20 per person; family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) €56.
    • Private charters: 1-hour €200, 2-hour €350, 3-hour €450 (up to 12 passengers). Book ahead. Phone: 087 4335350 or 087 2061999. Website: BoatTrips.ie.
  • Barrow Blueway – a 47 km towpath from Lowtown to Athy for walking or cycling, past historic bridges, weirs and Levitstown Mill. It is part of the longer Barrow Way.
  • Four Potts Well – an odd Grand Canal overflow structure just north of town, a short detour off the towpath.
  • Athy Golf Club – an 18-hole parkland course (par 72), 6,475 yd off the championship tees. Details: Athy Golf Club.
  • People’s Park – a 200-year-old park planted by the Duke of Leinster’s family with trees from around the world; recent upgrades added new paths and picnic benches.

Culture and nightlife

  • Frank O’Brien’s Bar – voted one of Ireland’s top ten pubs in 1999, and still good for a trad session and a pint.
  • Levi’s Bar, Anderson’s, Clancy’s – more pubs along Leinster Street.
  • Athy Community Arts Centre – exhibitions, performances and workshops.
  • Made of Athy Music Trail – self-guided plaques marking musicians linked to the town, including Johnny Marr.

Markets

  • Emily Square Market – every Tuesday, 9am–2pm: local produce, crafts and food.

Events

  • Athy Agricultural Show (each August) – livestock, craft stalls and live music.
  • Seasonal music sessions – regular trad evenings at Frank O’Brien’s Bar and the Community Arts Centre, busiest in summer.

Practical information

Getting there

  • By train – Athy station is on the Dublin–Waterford line. Trains from Dublin Heuston run every 2–3 hours and take about 45 minutes.
  • By bus – JJ Kavanagh route 717 and Go-Ahead Ireland routes 130/130a serve Athy frequently, and Local Link 817 connects Kilkenny, Castlecomer and Athy.
  • By car – the N78 (now re-aligned to meet the M9 near Mullamast) runs through Athy; the old N78 section is the R418.
  • River – the Barrow Navigation is part of the national waterways network, with boat hire and tours from the jetty beside the Shackleton Experience.

Visitor essentials

  • Parking – free on-street parking around the centre, plus a car park at the western end of the Crom-a-Boo Bridge.
  • Accessibility – the Athy Boat Tours barge is wheelchair-accessible; most castles are exterior-only and have limited access.
  • Accommodation – the 4-star Clanard Court Hotel and the historic Burtown House & Gardens (self-catering B&B), both a short drive out.

Useful contacts

Athy is small enough to cover on foot, with the Barrow and the canal taking over where the streets run out. For a single afternoon, the museum and a walk along the Blueway are the pick.