Following the 800th anniversary of the building of the Castle, the author was the first to call, through his column in The Westmeath Independent, for a new commitment to Athlone Castle. This call was answered by Athlone Town Council and a Castle Development Committee was reinstated. The new castle reopened to visitors in the summer of 2010, and this book, Athlone Castle: A History & Guide, is the only published guide to the site. Comprising of a full and accessible history, this guide takes the reader through the various events that have shaped the castle over the years, together with the work that has been done to bring this amenity back into the public sphere.