Modern day Athenry retains many of its medieval buildings and features and the award-winning Athenry Heritage Centre brings this Medieval Town to life using models, storyboards and audio-visual touch screen to celebrate and interpret the town's medieval past. The Heritage Centre, situated in the ruins of the Medieval St. Mary's Parish Church, in the centre of town, is the ideal starting point for anyone visiting Athenry.

It profiles the 13th Century Norman Castle and Dominican Priory, 14th Century Town Walls - complete with towers and the North Gate and the 15th Century Market Cross. The market scene captures the hustle and bustle of town life whilst the development and appearance of the town's most important buildings through the centuries is graphically illustrated. It is also the new home to the town's 14th Century Mace and Seal returned after an absence of 150 years.

Athenry Town, situated close to Galway City boasts some of the best preserved medieval buildings, walls and artifacts in Europe. Over 80% of the original Medieval Walls, together with original towers and gate survive to this day.

	-The only restored Norman Castle in Ireland.
	-A stunningly preserved Dominican Priory with the best examples of   occupational gravestones on this island.
	-An award winning Heritage Centre in the 13th Century ruins of the Medieval Parish Church.
	-A truly original "Gothic Tabernacle" or "Lantern" type cross which is the only market Cross in Ireland remaining in its original position since Medieval Times.
	-The original Mace & Seal of the town, probably the oldest of their kind, are on view at the Athenry Heritage Centre.

     All of these spectacular features in Ireland's best preserved Medieval Town can be found within a short distance of each other and a 60 minute walking tour will give everyone a real taste for Athenry's Medieval past.

Map Of Athenry circa 1700