a market-town and parliamentary borough of Ireland, lying partly in West Meath and partly in Roscommon, 76 miles W. of Dublin. The River Shannon divides the town into two portions, which are connected by a handsome new bridge, opened in 1844. The rapids of the Shannon at this point have been obviated by means of a canal about a mile long, which renders the river navigation practicable for 71 miles above the town. In the war of 1688, the possession of Athlone was considered of the greatest importance; and it consequently sustained two sieges, the first by William III. in person, which failed; and the second by General Ginkel, who, in the face of the Irish, forded the river, and took possession of the town with the loss of only fifty men. During the late war with France, it was strongly fortified on the Roscommon side, the works covering 15 acres, and containing two magazines, an ordnance store, an armory with 15,000 stand of arms, and barracks for 1500 men. There are two parish churches, two Roman Catholic parochial chapels, a Franciscan and Augustinian chapel, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Methodist meeting-houses, a sessions court-house, bridewell, a union workhouse, and two branch banks. It has a distillery, a brewery, and a tannery; and an active trade is carried on with Shannon harbour and Limerick by steamers, and with Dublin by the grand and royal canals. Market-days, Tuesday and Saturday. The borough returns one member to parliament. Pop. in 1851, 6218; constituency, 181.—Thom's Irish Almanac for 1853.