The RTÉ One series Building Ireland has officially returned to television screens, with its latest season premiere offering a deep look into the urban landscape of Athlone. As reported by The Irish Times, the episode highlights the town’s unique position as a settlement straddling two provinces—Connacht and Leinster—divided by the River Shannon.
The program features a team of experts, including geographer Dr. Susan Hegarty, engineer Tim Joyce, and architect Orla Murphy. Together, they explore Athlone’s evolution from a strategic river crossing to a modern settlement. The episode covers the town’s medieval origins, evidenced by its winding streets and enduring walls, as well as the ruins of a 17th-century Jacobean house.
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the town’s complex relationship with the River Shannon. While the river has historically served as a gateway between the east and west, the production team notes the challenges posed by recurrent flooding, which has impacted the community for decades. Despite some criticism regarding the use of academic jargon in the narration, the show is praised for its focus on the physical reality of Irish urban spaces and the practical engineering efforts involved in their development.