Adrian Cusack

Stories by Adrian Cusack

Below are recent stories by Adrian Cusack

• Published: 25 Jan 2012 17:05

  Minister fails to clarify Custume Barracks' future

  The continued status of Athlone's Custume Barracks as headquarters of the 4th Western Brigade remains in doubt this week, after Defence Minister Alan Shatter told the Dáil he would await a report on a planned shake-up of Army brigades before making a decision on the matter.

• Published: 25 Jan 2012 17:00

  Emigration leading to 'brain drain' in region

  Emigration is causing a 'brain drain' in the Midlands with many of the region's brightest and most talented young people leaving in search of work overseas, it was stated this week.

• Published: 18 Jan 2012 17:30

  'Cash for goods' outlets arrive in Athlone

  "You'd better take your diamond ring and pawn it, babe," suggested Bob Dylan in one of his most famous songs, Like A Rolling Stone. Until recently, if you wanted to follow that advice in Athlone you would not have been able to find a suitable outlet.

• Published: 18 Jan 2012 17:30

  Local entries win awards at Young Scientist event

  The new year got off to a high-profile start for three students from Athlone's Marist College when Ryan Tubridy interviewed them about their award-winning science project on RTE's Late Late Show last Friday.

• Published: 4 Jan 2012 17:30

  Twelve local projects set for 2012 Young Scientist expo

  Twelve projects from Westmeath, and a further twelve from Roscommon, have qualified for the upcoming BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition.

• Published: 28 Dec 2011 17:30

  Plans for new midlands hub for artists and musicians

  A band manager who grew frustrated over the difficulties up-and-coming musicians face in attracting airplay is planning to establish a representative group for artists which would fund its own gallery, studio and radio station.

• Published: 14 Dec 2011 18:00

  Jobs crisis in the Midlands

  The Midlands has the highest unemployment rate in the country with one in five of the region's adults out of work, according to grim statistics released this week.

• Published: 14 Dec 2011 17:55

  Burst watermain causes flooding at Coosan home

  Dramatic incident was captured on CCTV

• Published: 14 Dec 2011 17:15

  Athlone folk act's video is highlighted as one of the year's best

  A memorable video in which Athlone songwriter Eddie Keenan is buried alive has been highlighted as one of the best Irish music videos of 2011.

• Published: 7 Dec 2011 18:00

  Deep sadness over sudden death of AIT student

  Athlone IT chaplain Fr Shay Casey said the local institute was "devastated" by the sudden passing of popular student and former Garrycastle ladies footballer Alison Smyth in the early hours of yesterday (Tuesday) morning.

• Published: 7 Dec 2011 18:00

  Controversial motorway closure plans deferred at last minute

  Roscommon County Council has said that wintry weather caused the last-minute postponement of contentious roadworks that would have closed the westbound carriageway on the M6 motorway between Athlone and Ballinasloe in the lead-up to Christmas.

• Published: 7 Dec 2011 18:00

  Athlone woman uses iPhone to track down thief

  High-tech detective work by an Athlone woman led to the arrest of a thief who smashed the window of her family's rental car and made off with an array of valuables.

• Published: 7 Dec 2011 17:30

  Victim describes Diocesan audits as "a whitewash"

  A local resident who was abused while growing up in an orphanage run by nuns in Derry has described the release of six diocesan audits on child protection as "a whitewash."

• Published: 7 Dec 2011 17:15

  Councillors seek outright ban on 'fracking'

  Roscommon County Council is to write to the Government seeking an outright ban on the controversial method of gas extraction known as 'fracking'.

• Published: 2 Dec 2011 12:30

  Athlone-Ballinasloe M6 closure postponed until Spring

  The controversial closure of the westbound carriageway on the M6 motorway between Athlone and Ballinasloe, which was due to start on Monday, has now been postponed until the spring.

• Published: 30 Nov 2011 18:00

  Bishop's handling of abuse allegations is praised

  A new report into the handling of child abuse allegations in the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois has commended Bishop Colm O'Reilly on his response to such cases.

• Published: 30 Nov 2011 17:00

  Athlone native embroiled in European Court of Auditors row

  An Athlone native was last week at the centre of a major controversy over the appointment of his successor to the European Court of Auditors.

• Published: 23 Nov 2011 17:30

  Uncertainty over when €55m Athlone drainage plan will proceed

  Question marks remain over when a massive overhaul of local wastewater infrastructure will get underway, with both Westmeath County Council and the Department of the Environment expressing uncertainty this week over the timeframe for the Athlone Main Drainage Scheme.

• Published: 23 Nov 2011 17:15

  Rural campaigner Seamus Boland appointed chairperson of Pobal

  Seamus Boland, the CEO of the Moate-based Irish Rural Link organisation, has been appointed by the Government as the new chairperson of the social inclusion agency Pobal.

• Published: 23 Nov 2011 17:00

  Former Athlone teacher's comedy returns to a local stage 64 years on...

  This week - more than 64 years after it was first performed on a local stage - a comic play written by former Athlone schoolteacher P.G. O'Dea will be staged in the town's Passionfruit Theatre.

• Published: 9 Nov 2011 17:30

  Athlone friar criticises Government for 'putting an economic price on everything'

  An Athlone friar has criticised the Government for "putting an economic price on everything," while ignoring higher values.

• Published: 9 Nov 2011 17:30

  The time Smokin' Joe Frazier visited Athlone

  The sad passing of former world heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier on Monday sparked memories of the time, in June 1971, when he visited Athlone.

• Published: 9 Nov 2011 17:30

  Local launch for novel written by former Athlone judge

  Portarlington man Jim O'Sullivan was once "the heaviest alcoholic in the country," before turning his life around to serve as a judge who worked to reduce the damage caused by drink in Ireland.

• Published: 9 Nov 2011 17:00

  National award for Athlone Order of Malta

  The Athlone branch of the Order of Malta is going from strength to strength - a fact which was underlined when it recently received the national 'unit of the year' award from the voluntary first aid organisation.

• Published: 9 Nov 2011 17:00

  AIT students to attend pre-budget protest in Dublin

  Busloads of students from Athlone IT will travel to Dublin next week to protest against the threat of further cuts to third-level education in the upcoming budget.

• Published: 2 Nov 2011 17:30

  Athlone Castle will be closed again next summer

  Athlone Town Council has stated for the first time that delays to the €3m Athlone Castle revamp mean the town's most well-known tourist attraction will be closed to visitors for the third consecutive summer in 2012.

• Published: 2 Nov 2011 17:30

  Award recipient completed degree while undergoing cancer treatment

  A local woman who completed a degree at Athlone IT while undergoing treatment for breast cancer was presented with the President's Award last week.

• Published: 2 Nov 2011 17:00

  Electronic music maestro

  After he got his first set of turntables at age 14, Athlone's Joe Relihan said he "pretty much didn't leave the bedroom for the next month. I only had a handful of records but I got to know them inside out."

• Published: 19 Oct 2011 17:10

  Bin tag prices rise by up to 50%

  Local people struggling to make ends meet have been hit by a fresh blow with news that waste companies have increased the cost of having a bin emptied by up to 50%.

• Published: 12 Oct 2011 17:30

  Minister quizzed on Athlone's raw sewage shame

  Environment Minister Phil Hogan has been questioned about the problem of raw sewage being discharged into the River Shannon in Athlone during times of heavy rainfall.