Council to investigate free WiFi hotspots for Athlone

The council has been urged to provide free WiFi hotspots in Athlone for the benefit of visitors and local residents.

Cllr Aengus O’Rourke suggested free WiFi internet be provided in some “public outdoor areas in Athlone” to improve the experience of “our business and tourism visitors” .

He made the suggestion at a recent meeting of Athlone Municipal District.

He said it would also help to “serve the community and facilitate a growing demand for information from a news and educational perspective.”

Cllr O’Rourke suggested at the meeting that the John Count McCormack Square in front of the civic centre and Burgess Park were two of the areas which might be worth considering as WiFi hotspots.

“I think this is something that people would appreciate and recognise as a good step forward,” he commented.

The council replied that it was willing to investigate the cost of setting up WiFi hotspots in the town.

The local authority said it would now prepare a report “of possible locations and estimated cost, and this can be considered at a future district meeting.”