Athlone and Bigmeadow in County Westmeath, Leinster, Ireland — Mid-East (and Dublin)
Custume Barracks
Dún Chostúim
⎯⎯⎯
Athlone Woolen Mills/J.J. Walsh Memorial Cross
Muilte Olna Bhaile Átha Luain/Crois Chuimhneacháin
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 4, 2025
1. Custume Barracks/Dún Chostúim Marker
㊱ Custume Barracks
The Barracks, which is the oldest occupied Barracks in Europe, was named Custume Barracks by General Seán MacEoin following its take-over from the British Forces in 1922. Sergeant Custume, who served with Maxwell's Dragoons during the siege of 1691, gave his life during the heroic defence of the bridge. It is now the headquarters of the Western Command.
The present large complex has evolved from a barrack-building programme of the 1690s and includes many good examples of Georgian and Victorian architecture. However, for security reasons, access is not possible.
The main gate is a twentieth century addition constructed from the stones of a caponnière which guarded the original entrance at the Market Square, where the gate to the main Post Office now stands. It was relocated to its present position to facilitate the building of the Church of SS Peter and Paul.
[Photo captions, left to right, read]
• Departure of British troops in 1922. In the background are the old ordnance stores on the current site of the Church of SS Peter and Paul
• This photograph shows the original entrance
this page online
• This view shows the Watergate on the right hand side of the photograph with the Barracks in the background
㉟ Athlone Woolen Mills
Across the river stood the great industrial buildings of Athlone Woollen Mills. The mills were founded in 1858 by Dr. Edward Maloney Gleeson in partnership with his brother-in-law, James Simpson.
Once the largest employer in Athlone, at the height of its fame Athlone Woollen Mills employed up to 500 people and Athlone Tweeds enjoyed a worldwide reputation for quality.
The mills were destroyed by fire in November 1940. They were rebuilt and struggled to survive until eventually going into receivership in 1960. The buildings were cleared to make way for the Radisson SAS Hotel and Silver Quay apartment complex. This development commenced in 1999 and was completed in 2004.
[Photo captions, top and bottom, read]
• Athlone Woollen Mills on the east bank of the River Shannon
• Mill workers pictured leaving Athlone Woollen Mills mid 1930s
㊲ J.J. Walsh Memorial Cross
The celtic cross is to the memory of a young Athlone solicitor, J.J. Walsh (1876-1903). It was erected by
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 4, 2025
2. Custume Barracks/Dún Chostúim Marker
[Photo caption reads]
This photograph shows the original location of the memorial cross on the edge of the Market place
㊱ Dún Chostúim An Ginearál Seán MacEoin a thug Dún Chostuim mar ainm ar an mbeairic, an bheairic is faide in úsáid leanúnach ar fud na hEorpa ar fad, tar éis a gabháil ar láimh ó Fhórsaí na Breataine sa bhliain 1922. Bhí an Sáirsint Costúim ar fianas le Dragúin Maxwell le linn léigear na bliana 1691 agus maraíodh é le linn a chuid gaisce i mbun chosaint an droichid. Is é ceanncheathrú Cheanasaíocht an larthair é.
De réir a chéile a tógadh an
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 4, 2025
3. Athlone Woolen Mills/J.J. Walsh Memorial Cross Marker
I rith na fichiú aoise a cuireadh an príomhgheata isteach agus clocha in úsáid as caponnière a bhí ag an gcéad gheata ar Chearnóg an Mhargaidh mar a bhfuil geata Oifig an Phoist anois. Athraíodh an geata go dtí an áit a bhfuil sé anois ionas go bhféadfaí Eaglais Naomh Peadar agus Pól a thógáil.
[Fotheidil grianghraf, ó chlé go deas, léite]
• Imeacht shaighdiúirí na Breataine sa bhliain 1922. Tá amharc i gcúl an phictiúirí ar na seanstórtha ordanáis áit a bhfuil Eaglais Naomh Peadar agus Pól suite anois.
• Grianghraf den seanbhealach isteach ag an mBeairic.
• Grianghraf ina bhfuil Geata an Uisce ar thaobh na láimhe deise agus an Bheairic le feiceal siar isteach sa radharc.
㉟ Muilte Olna Bhaile Átha Luain
Bhíodh foirgnimh mhóra tionsclaíochta trasna na habhann, Muilte Olna Bhaile Átha Luain. Ba é an Dr Edward Maloney Gleeson a chuir na muilte ar bun sa bhliain 1858 i gcomhar páirtíochta le
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 4, 2025
4. Athlone Woolen Mills/J.J. Walsh Memorial Cross Marker
Bhí tráth ann arbh sna muilte olna is mó a bhí fostaíocht le fáil i mBaile Átha Luaín agus bhí suas le 500 duine fostaithe iontu nuair a bhí Athlone Woollen Mills i mbarra réime agus cáil ar fud an domhain ar Athlone Tweeds as feabhas an bhréidín.
Scriosadh na muilte le tine i mí na Samhna 1940. Tógadh athuair iad ach ba mhór an choimhlint a bhain lena gcoinneáil sa siúl go dtí gur leachtaíodh an gnóthas sa deireadh sa bhliain 1960. Glanadh na foirgnimh as an mbealach nuair a tógadh Óstán an Radisson SAS agus árasáin Silver Quay. Cuireadh tús leis an obair sin sa bhliain 1999 agus tugadh chun críche í sa bhliain 2004.
[Fotheidil ghrianghraif, ar bharr agus ar bhun, léite]
• Muilte Olna Bhaile Átha Luain ar bhruach thoir na Sionainne
• Oibrithe na muilte sa fágáil Muilte Olla Bhaile Átha Luain sna blianta roimh 1940
㊲ Crois Chuimhneacháin
Is i gcuimhne ar aturnae óg as Baile Átha Luain, J.J. Walsh (1876-1903) an chrois Cheilteach. Sintiúis ón bpobal a d'foc ar a chur suas agus ba é Seán Réamann M.P., Ceannaire Pháirtí Parlaiminteach na hÉireann a nocht í i mí Deireadh Fómhair 1906. Bhíodh sí suite ar dtús ar chorr Phlás an Mhargaidh ar aghaidh Halla an Athar Maitiú. Deirtí faoi Johnny Walsh, mar ba mhinice a thugtaí air, nach raibh aon ócáid, ba chuma ar basár nó cluiche peile, nach mbiodh lamh aige ina eagrú. Ba mhaith an t-amhránaí agus an fear ceoil é agus bhí dlúthchairdeas idir é féin agus John McCormack ar thug sé spreagadh agus cúnamh dó ina n-óigfhir dóibh. Ba é an chéad rúnaí é a bhí ar Chonradh na Gaeilge i mBaile Átha Luain agus bhí sé chun tosaigh san obair d'fhonn Cumann Bádóireachta Bhaile Átha Luain a chur ar bun arís.
[Léann fotheideal an ghrianghraif]
Grianghraf inar léir an t-ionad ina mbiodh an chrois cuimhneacháin ar imeall Phlás an Mhargaidh
Erected by Town of Athlone, National Development Plan, and Fáilte Ireland.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, Non-US. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.
Location. 53° 25.509′ N, 7° 56.672′ W. Marker is in Athlone, Leinster, in County Westmeath. It is in Athlone and Bigmeadow. It is on Elliott Road (Leinster Route 446) 0.2 kilometers north of Barrack Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is along the riverfront trail, opposite the Custume Barracks main entrance. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Athlone, Leinster N37 X2Y6, Ireland. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Hidden Heartlands. Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean, in the North Atlantic Region, in Europe, on the Island of Ireland, on the Celtic Fringe, in the European Union, in Atlantic Europe, on one of the British Isles, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: John Joseph Walsh Memorial Cross (here, next to this marker); John Count McCormack (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); Tourist Information (about 210 meters away); Athlone Castle/Church of SS Peter and Paul (about 210 meters away);
Also see . . .
1. Custume Barracks History (The Old Athlone Society). (Submitted on April 15, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. Athlone Woollen Mills (Section 2, Westmeath Industrial Heritage Survey, 2019). (Submitted on April 15, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 15, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 144 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 15, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
