In this week's Westmeath Independent

This week's Westmeath Independent is now on the shelves and features 88 pages of the best local news, sports, features and photography coverage.

Our stories include:

* Dramatic plans unveiled for €3m facelift of Athlone's waterfront

* Shock as 88% of Westmeath rental properties fail inspection 

* 'I'm no ladies' man' local TD tells Hot Press

* Fianna Fáil's South Roscommon convention labelled 'a sham' 

* CIE board approves long-awaited Railway Field Road land transfer

* Christmas TV appearance for Moate's GLÓR choir  

* Son in Canada pays tribute to late Kathleen McCormack from Athlone

* Cuteness overload at Summerhill NS nativity play - we have photos and a report! 

* Council closes in on developer choice for massive 600-house Athlone project

* PHOTO SPECIALS: Athlone Community College Lip Sync; Curraghboy Church concert; Samaritan Christmas concert

* Local derby as Athlone CC to meet Moate CS in Leinster schools' championship

* Westmeath GAA chairman hits out at lack of promotion for hurling's McDonagh Cup

* Dublin football star Philly McMahon among speakers at wellbeing event in Rosemount

* Athlone pip the Panthers to go top of Midlands Basketball League

All this and more is in this week's paper, which is out now. A digital copy can be purchased through the 'ePaper' link towards the top of this page.