Pages from the Past

150 YEARS AGO 1861 Athlone Town Commissioners One hundred and fifty years ago this week this newspaper carried a report from the Town Commissioners meeting, where rates and the painting of lamps was discussed. The report stated: "Dr Hetherington in the chair. Commissioners present: J. Murtagh, L. Kelly, F. Sproule, N.E. Abbott, J. McDonnell and P. Maxwell Esqrs. Mr Judge, collector, wished to know what steps he would take to recover the rate due by the occupants of houses on The Strand, sold by Mr Geoghegan to Mr Eccles - he had served the parties in possession with the usual notice. The collector was directed to look to the occupiers for payment, who were entitled to credit for the amount when paying their rents. An application from the lamplighter for a gratuity for painting the street lamps was under consideration and refused - but an advance of 20s to be repaid at 1s a week was subsequently granted." 100 YEARS AGO 1911 Coosan Carnival Enjoyable Gathering One hundred years ago this week Athlone residents had enjoyed a fun carnival in Coosan. The Westmeath Independent reported: "Coosan annual sports were held on the shores of Lough Ree on Saturday evening last. The popular event, as usual, attracted quite a large number of people from the town and the immediate vicinity and the different events were watched with considerable interest. Many who had the evening off left town for Coosan with pleasurable anticipations of a good evening's entertainment. So far as one could judge, this ambition was realised and as jolly an assemblage as one could desire patronised the fixture. It was not of course to say run on an elaborate scale, but events were as numerous and well contested as in previous years, if not better." 50 YEARS AGO 1961 Keep Athlone Tidy Fifty yeas ago this week the Westmeath Independent reported that Athlone was trying to win the Tidy Towns competition for a second time. The report stated: "A big number of people in Athlone are co-operating in an endeavour to win the 'Tidy Towns' competition for a second time. In fact, Athlone's business centres have taken on a new look appearance and in different areas householders are doing their best to improve matters. One instance of this spirit can be found on the docks, where local business people and private residents did good work in removing weeds and planting flowers in their place." Shannon Boat Rally Everything ready for big event The same week the Westmeath Independent reported that everything was in place for the largest boat rally in Ireland. The paper reported: "All arrangements have now been completed for the monster boat rally on the Shannon in the first week in August. Boats will assemble in Athlone on Friday, August 4, and will start out on the following morning upstream to Carrick-on-Shannon and Boyle. So great has been the number of entries that the idea of having a mass start had to be ruled out. Boats will leave at selected intervals from 5.30am until 10am on Saturday. Mr PJ Flynn, President of the Athlone branch of the Inland Waterways Association, is commodore of the fleet which is expected to consist of up to sixty boats, the largest mustered in a rally in Ireland. Camera and television units will follow the course of the rally during the week. 25 YEARS AGO 1986 Top American cop has Athlone uncle Twenty-five years ago this week the Westmeath Independent reported that the new Deputy Commissioner of the New York Police Department Richard Condon was the nephew of Ed McNamara from Mitchell's Terrace. The paper reported: "A pipe-smoking American with an Irish twinkle in his eye, Richard Condon, has recently been appointed the Deputy Commissioner to the Police Department in New York. Richard is nephew of Ed McNamara, Mitchell's Terrace, Athlone, a Limerickman who has lived here for many years. Edward's sister, who emigrated to the United States as a young girl, is Richard's mother. The former Deputy Inspector Richard Condon (50) was named to succeed Patrick Murphy as the $96,000 a year first Deputy Police Commissioner. The announcement of Richard Condon's appointment was made by Police Commissioner Benjamin Ward, who described him as the best man for the job." New jetty opened at Lough Ree The opening of a new jetty at Lough Ree Yacht Club was also making headlines 25 years ago this week with the Westmeath Independent reporting that Acting Chairman of Lakeland, the Midland Regional Tourism Organisation, Vincent Walsh said: "Irish inland waters are perceived as pollution free and this perception is one we must all aspire to." The report continued: "The occasion marked the opening of the new Lough Ree Yacht Club jetty near Coosan. It is believed to be the second oldest sailing club in the world. Club Commodore Peter Quigley in an interview with this paper said they had spent in excess of £10,000 on materials for the jetty. Most of the labour had been voluntary which described the wonderful spirit of goodwill existing in the club.