Moate

Moate sits right on the N6, Ireland's main Dublin to Galway route, making it a handy stop for cross-country journeys. It's 90 kilometres west of Dublin and puts you within easy reach of Athlone (15km south), Kilbeggan (10km), and Tullamore (20km). The town serves as a proper hub for the midlands, with several distilleries nearby including the well-known Kilbeggan operation. The most striking thing about Moate is the Norman motte in the town centre, a 12th-century artificial hill that gave the place its name and still dominates the streetscape as a grassy mound.