Flood alleviation works along the Shannon have discovered significant historical evidence of Athlone's 17th-century town defences.
Flood works on the Strand in Athlone uncovered what's believed to be part of the bastion fortification that protected the banks of the River Shannon.
Athlone became a walled town around 800 years ago as it was considered a strategically important river crossing.
The defences were significantly improved in the 1600s, with higher walls and bastions constructed.
Bastions are large fortifications that project out from the existing walls, with the construction in question extending over the banks of the Shannon.
While the majority of the bastion remains were demolished in the Shannon navigation scheme works in the 1800s, recent works on the strand have uncovered evidence of the precise location of the fortification.
Further archaeological assessments will now be carried out on The Strand under Ministerial Consent
The strand has now been reopened to pedestrian use as the archaeological assessment is expected.
