Castle to open in middle of next year

Athlone Castle is expected to open in the middle of next year with work due to be finished by the end of June, it emerged this week. Director of Services for the Athlone Area Barry Kehoe told councillors at Monday's December meeting that the contractor has already started work at the castle and it expected to be a seven-month contract, which should be complete by the end of June. This comes despite the council admitting on its website recently that the project would not be completed until the end of the summer. Mr Kehoe said a second contractor would carry out the fit-out of audio visual equipment and the council hopes to fully appoint this contractor with in the next week or so. He said this contractor would not be on site for three months, which would give ample time to complete the work. "Hopefully we'll be in a position to open the castle next summer. It's later than we would have liked," he said. Cllr Mark Cooney (FG) said he hoped the work would go to schedule and said given the problems so far does the council have a means of ensuring the works are completed on schedule or ahead of it. Mr Kehoe said the council meets with the contractor and the consultant every two weeks. Cllr Aengus O'Rourke (FF) asked if the OPW had been asked to come on board and play in role in the refurbishment, particularly in relation to the curtain walls, an issue he said he raised a year and a half ago. "I have a vision of it being modern inside and shabby walls on the outside. I'm not suggesting we return it to its former glory but some work could be done," he said. He added that there is a plaque on the castle wall about 8ft off the ground opposite the zebra crossing that cannot be read. His party colleague Cllr Kieran Molloy said he had raised this issue a number of months ago and the town clerk had said it would be done as part of the refurbishment. Mr Kehoe said the appearance of the castle was a matter for Athlone Town Council and while OPW consent would be needed the OPW would not be in a position to provide funds for any work. He said the council could do something about the plaque and he would raise the issue of the walls with the conservation architect. He said it may be the case that the architect recommends the castle is kept as it is for authenticity but he would talk to the architect and get back to Cllr O'Rourke.