Check out today's Westmeath Independent

This week's edition of the Westmeath Independent is on sale now and contains 44 pages of the best local news, sport and photography. Featured stories include: * H-Block art work in Athlone's new gallery criticised by former Minister Paddy Cooney. * End of an era in Athlone as the 4th Western Brigade is disbanded. *New nightclub creates 50 jobs in Athlone. * Curraghboy man Willie Gacquin to become one of the first permanent deacons in the Elphin diocese. * Coosan teenager hailed with award after rescuing a man from the lake last July. * Read about an Athlone woman who has followed her dream by publishing a new children's book entitled 'My Super Cool Friend,' a fairytale about the friendship between a swan and a frog and features Lough Ree and the Shannon. * Our Independent People series continues with a profile of Athlone's Bernard Sweeney, who looks back at his experiences of World War II and military life in the town. * In sport, the Westmeath Independent previews the upcoming Westmeath U21 Football Final beween Athlone and the fancied Maryland/Tang side this weekend. * There is also extensive coverage of local swimmer Brendan Gibbon's fantastic exploits at Ireland's Short Course National Championships - breaking three records along the way to claiming two gold and a silver medal. *St Brigid's keeper Shane Curran brings the Shane McGettigan Cup to Brideswell, Curraghboy, Lismoyle National Schools in a pictorial special this week. All this and more in this week's paper, which available in local outlets and can also be accessed in the ePaper format (for more on this option, see: http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/epaper#undefined)