This west midland town is located on a low lying landscape wrapping around part of the northern shores of Lough Rea. It has recently been by-passed to the north by the N5 (which, in turn, is scheduled to be by-passed and thus be relegated to town relief road status). This town has been selected because it combines a midland location, fairly flat terrain, dominant lake, linearity, informality, strong division into two parts, Celtic monastic form and national by-pass.