The central place of Athlone Institute of Technology in the lives of the people of the town and the wider midlands is underlined this week with two pieces of significant news.

Firstly, it has emerged that the institute will continue to host the National Community Games finals for the next three years, at the very least.

And the revelation that the Community Games organisation is to relocate its full-time staff and operational headquarters to the town only serves to copper fasten the connection between the games and Athlone.

It is no exaggeration to say that the town is now becoming synonymous with the Community Games in the same manner as Mosney was for a previous generation.

Meanwhile, the fact that there was an eleven per cent rise in numbers accepting a first round CAO offer at Athlone IT this September indicates the college's growing reputation among the student cohort.

It is now crucial that the institute attains the proposed new technological university status to ensure its continued vitality.

And with the new indoor sports arena set to open by the end of the year, the contribution of Athlone IT to the midlands will only be enhanced yet further.