A View - of third-class architecture!

Once upon a time, coming up the Shannon to Athlone, you'd round the bend at the Big Meadow and there'd be Athlone in front of you, standing solidly on it's hills above the river.

You'd see the housing climbing up from the Strand to St. Mary's on Church Street, and on the other side, the Castle and SS Peter & Paul. You'd think "Oh, so THAT's why they built a town there".

Now, all you see is the distinctly bland and ugly architecture around Golden Island and the new Sheraton Hotel.