Athlone and Bigmeadow in County Westmeath, Leinster, Ireland — Mid-East (and Dublin)
Historical Garden at Athlone Castle
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 5, 2025
1. Historical Garden at Athlone Castle Marker
This Historical Garden is a collection of plants often found in castle gardens in Medieval times.
Those gardens were planted with a large array of herbs, flowers and fruit trees and bushes, all of which could be added to food.
Some had medicinal use, other were valued as a source of pigment in dyes for textiles and ink for manuscripts.
[Listed alphabetically for convenience]
Bilberry
Fraughan is the first Sunday of August
and is linked to the festival of Lughnasadh
[Drawing] By Cara, 9 years old
Borage
Druids reportedly blessed their warrior's weapons
with borage before battles.
[Drawing] By Maria, 6 years old
Lavender
In Italy, washerwomen were called Lavandaie.
Lavender was used in laundry for its
this page online
[Drawing] By Shakira, 10 years old
Lemon Balm
Beekeepers rubbed the leaves of lemon
balm inside older hives to encourage new
swarms to take over.
[Drawing] By Siobhan, 9 years old
Lovage
Lovage was used in love potions, and the medieval
name "Love Ache" means love parsley.
[Drawing] By Shakira, 10 years old
Marigold
Marigolds were used as an early hair dye
for blonde tones!
[Drawing] By Culann, 6 years old
Marjoram
Marjoram is one of the many traditional herbs
associated with rituals around Samhain.
[Drawing] By Nairobi-Sofia, 9 years old
Mint
Mint is an ancient plant with seeds found
in fossil records over 5 million years old!
[Drawing] By Rasta, 9 years old
Nasturtium
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 5, 2025
2. Historical Garden at Athlone Castle Bilberry Marker
Nasturtium translates as "Nose-twister" in Latin!
[Drawing] By Ruby, 9 years old
Parsley
In folklore parsley grows best where the woman
"wears the trousers" in the household.
[Drawing] By Tara, 10 years old
Rosemary
Despite their many differences, rosemary is
related to mint!
[Drawing] By Shakira, 10 years old
Sage
Burning small bundles of sage has been used for
centuries to protect, heal, and purify.
[Drawing] By Leigha, 10 years old
Strawberry
Strawberry is an unlikely member
of the rose family.
[Drawing] By Aoibheann, 8 years old
Thyme
Folk uses include banishing evil spirits, attracting
loyalty, and romance.
[Drawing] By Maria, 10 years old
Wild Strawberry
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 5, 2025
3. Historical Garden at Athlone Castle Borage Marker
An early Irish epic poem mentions strawberries
were eaten by legendary warriors na Fianna
in Gleann Ghualann.
[Drawing] By Molly, 10 years old
Erected by Athlone Castle.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Horticulture & Forestry.
Location. 53° 25.402′ N, 7° 56.556′ W. Marker is in Athlone, Leinster, in County Westmeath. It is in Athlone and Bigmeadow. It can be reached from The Quay. Marker is on the Athlone Castle northeast upper battlement overlooking the River Shannon Bridge. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Athlone, Leinster N37 A6D7, Ireland. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Hidden Heartlands. Globally, it is in 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: Custume Barracks/Church of Saints Peter and Paul/Railway Bridge/Luan Gallery (here, next to this marker); Clonmacnoise (here, next to this marker); Athlone Woollen Mills/Town Bridge (here, next to this marker); The Great Siege of Athlone 1691 / Remains of the Elizabethan Bridge / River Shannon and Navigation (here, next to this marker); Ireland's Hidden HEARTLANDS (a few steps from this marker); Athlone Castle
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 5, 2025
4. Historical Garden at Athlone Castle Lavender Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 5, 2025
5. Historical Garden at Athlone Castle Lemon Balm Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 5, 2025
6. Historical Garden at Athlone Castle Lovage Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 5, 2025
7. Historical Garden at Athlone Castle Marigold Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 5, 2025
8. Historical Garden at Athlone Castle Marjoram Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 5, 2025
9. Historical Garden at Athlone Castle Mint Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 5, 2025
10. Historical Garden at Athlone Castle Nasturtium Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 5, 2025
11. Historical Garden at Athlone Castle Parsley Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 5, 2025
12. Historical Garden at Athlone Castle Rosemary Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 5, 2025
13. Historical Garden at Athlone Castle Sage Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 5, 2025
14. Historical Garden at Athlone Castle Strawberry Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 5, 2025
15. Historical Garden at Athlone Castle Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 5, 2025
16. Historical Garden at Athlone Castle Wild Strawberry Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 5, 2025
17. Historical Garden at Athlone Castle Markers
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 5, 2025
18. Historical Garden at Athlone Castle Markers
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 5, 2025
19. Historical Garden at Athlone Castle Markers
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., April 5, 2025
20. Historical Garden at Athlone Castle Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on December 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 16, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 94 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. submitted on April 16, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
