Like so many Irish towns, Athy owes its ancient importance to the fact that it commanded an important ford across the river barrow. Many a fight was waged for the control of this ford; in such a struggle Ae, thye king of Munster, fell in the 11th century, and his name has been associated with the place ever since, Ath-ae.Towards the end of the 13th century, one of the Anlgo-norman barons, probaly Richard de St.Michael, erected the castle of woodstock to command the ford, and, and some remains of this formidable fortress can stil be seen to the north of the town. Three centuries later white castle was built to command the bridgehead; its massive rectangler wall, with a turret at each single, still overlooks the curious old bridge (1796) with its quaint name CROM-A-BOO bridge, the name evidently referring to the war cry of the Desmond branch of the Fitzgerald family. Both castles, especially Woodstock, suffered much in the Stuart and Jacobite Wars.The walls ot the town have dissapered, but there are remains of one of the gates called PRESTONS GATE. Athy is now an agricultural centre of some importance, and has a good late 18th century market house. The river barrow is joined here by a branch ot the crand canal from ROBERTSTOWN the distance by water from dublin to athy is 42 miles.3 miles north –west are the ruins of REBAN CASTLE, 13 century, one of the stronghols of richard de St.michael, whose name is si closley associated with Athy. Reban, or Righban, is marked on Ptolemy s map, 2nd century, as one of the inland towns of ireland .A few miles to the east of athy is the ruined castle of inch, the foundations of which were laid in the reign of the king john; the castle was enlarged in the early 15th century .6 miles south-east of athy are the remains of BELAN HOUSE, 18 th century, thw work of richard cassels .6 miles south-east is Gracefield Lodge, a late 18th century buildings by Nash .4 mies south –west is the ruined O more fortress of Ballyadams,16th century and earlier .