Visiting The Fields Of Athenry, Republic of Ireland: Top 10 Sights☘🇮🇪

“By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young girl calling” – Pete Saint John.

It was a sunshiney day in June 2023, as we toured Athenry Castle, Athenry Town Centre, Athenry Square, Athenry Monastery and the fields that inspired a song back in 1979, called “The Fields Of Athenry“.

Visiting The Fields Of Athenry, Republic of Ireland

With all that in mind, something about the town of Athenry meant a visit was on the cards, especially when my Dad and I decided to backpack to nearby Galway…it’s not that far away so it was a trip we just had to do – to the fields of Athenry. It was my first trip to Galway, Salthill and Athenry, even though I’ve been to the Republic of Ireland over 50 times!

Visiting The Fields Of Athenry, Republic of Ireland

Getting To Athenry

Athenry, despite being a quiet countryside village is very well connected and easy to access. From Dublin, Athlone and Galway there are many direct trains daily. My Dad was backpacking with me on this trip and we decided to go there by train on a daytrip from our base in Galway. I bought an adult day return for 9.80 Euros on 22nd June 2023. My Dad doesn’t have to pay for any public transport on the island of Ireland – a very decent privilege for those older than 60 (in Northern Ireland) or 65 (in Republic of Ireland).

Pro Tip: If you’re looking to explore without leaving a digital trail, consider using a VPN to hide phone location. This can add an extra layer of privacy to your travels, ensuring you enjoy the beauty of Athenry without unnecessary digital footprints.

My return train ticket from Galway to Athenry

We got on the train at Galway (which only has one station) and Athenry was the next stop on our train. That journey took a mere 20 minutes. There might be another stop in between but our train didn’t stop there, so we arrived before 10 a.m. into the town of Athenry.

Galway train station

Dad on the train from Galway to Athenry

The train from Galway to Athenry

Athenry train station

Getting a bus is also an option, as of course is walking, taxis or cars. There are no boats or flights to Athenry.

The Song “The Fields Of Athenry”

In 1979, Pete Saint John penned the lyrics and music for “The Fields Of Athenry”. It’s a beautiful ballad and I personally like the sentiment and mood of this song, despite its association with my rival footbal team, the Republic of Ireland. Whilst the song is not sectarian, many people think it is. It’s not, and it shouldn’t be – it’s just a sad and true story of a local lad from Athenry who stole corn/crops from a field owned by a rich British landlord. When they caught him, they stuck him on a prison ship in Galway Bay and took him to Australia. He left behind his life and his love and the prison sentence seems harsh given the famine and the British rule on an island which is Irish and proud. For the record, I’m a Northern Ireland football fan but I enjoy the banter between football fans and I’m Northern Irish before I’m Irish or British but the hat-trick can envelope them into me if you so wish. In the town of Athenry, references to the song feature in a few places. The full lyrics are on the corner in the main street, next to the Fields Of Athenry Gift Shop.

The Fields Of Athenry

The Fields Of Athenry – lyrics

Top Sight – The Actual Fields Of Athenry

For me, I obviously wanted to see some actual fields in Athenry – and that won’t be difficult at all! There are thousands of fields all around the edge of the town. We toured a few fields there, but of course the field of Trevelyan where the alleged corn thief, Michael nicked the corn from, is not known – use your imagination.

“Low lie the fields of Athenry, where once we watched the small free birds fly.
Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing.
It’s so lonely ’round the fields of Athenry” – Pete Saint John.

Visiting The Actual Fields Of Athenry, Republic of Ireland

Visiting The Fields Of Athenry, Republic of Ireland

Visiting The Actual Fields Of Athenry, Republic of Ireland

Visiting The Fields Of Athenry, Republic of Ireland: Top 10 Sights☘🇮🇪

Nine Other Sights In Athenry

The town actually has quite a lot of sights! And as we were only going here once, we decided to see them all.

1.Town Centre

The main streets feature a triple road meeting in the town centre. It’s a very typical old Irish town with all the main amenities in and around a few streets including a butchery, banks, coffee shops, pubs, barbers and shops.

Town centre of Athenry

2.The Clarin River

The river that flows through Athenry is the Clarin.

The Clarin River, Athenry

3.St. Mary’s Parish Church in Athenry

There are a few churches in Athenry and I backpacked a brace – the more impressive one has old graves in the grounds and has a heritage centre inside it. This one is called St. Mary’s Parish Church in Athenry.

St. Mary’s Parish Church in Athenry

4.Athenry Castle

The Athenry Castle is well maintained and in good condition. The castle features in the 2005 children’s historical novel: Hoofbeats: Lara at Athenry Castle by Kathleen Duey. The castle walls are intact.

Athenry Castle

5.Athenry Dominican Priory

The Priory Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Athenry, also called Athenry Priory, is a medieval Dominican priory and National Monument on the edge of town. It dates back to 1241.

Athenry Dominican Priory

6.Town Arch/Walls

The main entrance to the town features the remains of the ancient arch, which had walls back in the day.

Town arch/walls at Athenry

7.Ownerless Dog

At the train station there is an ownerless dog statue. I didn’t find out what the craic was with this. It’s either a guard dog statue (the dog’s teeth look tough) or a dog who once was left here by its owner and stayed waiting for them to return, but they didn’t. Donnaona Cahill was written behind it, but this wasn’t the dog’s name but the sculptor’s name.

Ownerless dog

Ownerless Dog

8.The Fields of Athenry Gift Shop and Lyrics

The tourist shop is on a main corner in the town centre. Next to it are the lyrics to the famous song, as well as a tourist map of the town which makes it easy to see around.

Athenry Gift Shop and Lyrics

9.Town Square Monument

In the town centre, there is a town square monument.

Town Square Monument

Eating and Drinking In Athenry

The only thing we could have done which we skipped was to have lunch here and a wee pint in one of the pubs. We did, however manage to have a latte each in the town’s lovely “Town Cafe” in the centre. They also have a decent food menu.

Town Cafe, Athenry for two lattes

In terms of pubs, there was The Hop Inn, the Square Inn, The Old Barracks, The Lower Bar and a few others.

The Hop Inn, Athenry

The Old Barracks, Athenry

The Lower Bar, Athenry

Here are the lyrics to the song “The Fields Of Athenry”

By a lonely prison wallI heard a young girl calling“Michael, they have taken you awayFor you stole Trevelyan’s cornSo the young might see the mornNow a prison ship lies waiting in the bay”

Low lie the fields of AthenryWhere once we watched the small free birds flyOur love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to singIt’s so lonely ’round the fields of Athenry

By a lonely prison wallI heard a young man calling“Nothing matters, Mary, when you’re freeAgainst the famine and the crownI rebelled, they cut me downNow you must raise our child with dignity”

Low lie the fields of AthenryWhere once we watched the small free birds flyOur love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to singIt’s so lonely ’round the fields of Athenry

By a lonely harbour wallShe watched the last star fallingAs that prison ship sailed out against the skyFor she lived in hope and prayFor her love in Botany BayIt’s so lonely ’round the fields of Athenry

Low lie the fields of AthenryWhere once we watched the small free birds flyOur love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to singIt’s so lonely ’round the fields of Athenry

Here are my videos from my trip to Athenry: