Looked at 23 houses in Athlone earlier this year and bought one, which is rented now--it was NOT easy to rent! though it is one mile from centre in a good area.....It was empty for 6 weeks with only two three phonecalls despite daily daft/local papers/word of moth/ ads in shops etc etc....you might do better to buy on east side of athlone near college, to rent to students. and possibly better to buy an apt--there are many new ones being built--I saw some houses and apts which had already been let--and the condition was dreadful....so dont get your hopes too high! there were then (last Feb) 150 properties to view in the athlone area.. Mullingar might even be better as it is easier to get to the Dublin area for work.