Castlerea

united kingdom

Castlerea sits where the N60 and N63 cross in County Roscommon, making it a handy stop for anyone traveling between Dublin and the west coast. Most folk arrive via the N4 from Dublin, then turn north through Athlone, while the N63 brings you straight up from Galway through Roscommon town. The railway station on the Dublin-Westport line offers a grand alternative to driving. The town's claim to fame is its massive 19th-century prison, built from local limestone and still very much in business as one of Ireland's top-security facilities.