The River Tang, an archaeologically significant bridge and buildings with clearly established historical dates give Tang its own distinct character.
Tang between road and river
Tang lies on the N55 national secondary road between Athlone to the southwest and Ballymahon to the northeast. The river offers a second, quite different point of reference: the River Tang flows into the River Inny and, three kilometres downstream, into Lough Ree. This makes it possible to situate the village both by its location on the road and by the named waterways, without treating these two connections as a single route.
Buildings and landscape in the village
Within the village of Tang, Tang River Bridge is considered archaeologically significant. St Mary’s Church is a detached Roman Catholic church with a T-shaped plan. It was built around 1830; side aisles were added to the north and south around 1850. Its construction history can therefore be described in two phases: first the church was built, then the two side aisles were added.
Northeast of St Mary’s Church stands a detached bell tower on a small circular earthwork. A bronze bell hangs in a modern metal frame. The church and bell tower therefore differ both in their architectural form and in their fittings. Near Tang River Bridge there is also a species-rich meadow with numerous grasses, wildflowers and herbs; this was recorded during field visits in 2022.
A digital discovery is also part of what the village offers: on the Memory Trail page dedicated to Tang, users can listen to and read stories and interesting posts about Tang and its surroundings. Check before travelling whether the platform is currently accessible.
Practical information for the surrounding area
Templeavally Cemetery lies nearby, west of Tang. There is a car park on its eastern side. Before travelling there, check whether the car park is accessible and available.
A 2022 description of Noughaval Cemetery noted that access was via a private field with wet grassland and yellow flag iris, grazed by horses. A mown grass path ran around the cemetery; at the time, the wooden fence intended to protect visitors was in need of repair. Confirm access before visiting rather than planning to use the route as a public right of way.
More things to do in County Westmeath
The wider destination of County Westmeath offers more than 100 kilometres of walking and cycling routes. One example is the 40-kilometre Old Rail Trail from Athlone to Mullingar, which follows a converted section of the Midlands Great Western Railway. The Royal Canal is fully navigable through County Westmeath and passes by Mullingar on its way to the River Shannon; check the current navigation status before taking a boat trip. The Royal Canal Greenway offers a different way to get around: a waterside route for cyclists and pedestrians, with no motorised traffic. In the Belvedere lakeside area, a network of paths runs through woodland.
County Westmeath offers several different themes for visitors interested in history. The Hill of Uisneach was the centre, or “Omphalos”, where the five kingdoms met. Guided walking tours there explore myths and legends, the High Kings, an interconnected ringfort and historical monuments; check tour dates and booking options in advance. At Fore Abbey, St Feichin founded a Christian monastery in the seventh century AD. St Feichin’s Way is a circular route around the abbey; trail conditions may change.
The Athlone Castle Visitor Centre presents the history of Athlone and the castle across eight modern exhibition rooms. Check current access before travelling. Kilbeggan Distillery, which has been operating since 1757, offers another perspective on the region’s history. The Kilbeggan Distillery Experience includes a tasting masterclass featuring three different whiskeys and showcases traditional processes: mashing in oak mash tuns, fermentation in Oregon pine vats, and the original waterwheel. As the tasting format may change, check the current tour options in advance.
Discover more destinations: Castlepollard, Killinure, Rathowen, Mullingar, Drumcree, Moate, Athlone, Kinnegad
For the wider travel guide: County Westmeath.
