Positive messages in local shopfronts to boost the spirits

A new initiative in Athlone is set to give the town a facelift as positive messages will be painted in the windows of businesses and empty retail units.

Gerard Tiernan was driving through the town in October when inspiration for the project struck.

“I was in town and I just thought it would be great to do something to boost positivity. With lockdown it can be hard for everyone so little messages in windows can be uplifting for some people.”

The idea was initially to paint the messages of hope in the windows of empty retail units around town to brighten them up, but businesses soon came on board after Gerard posted the idea to Facebook.

“I was inundated. It really exploded into something massive. I had loads of people commenting and getting in contact to try get involved,” he explained.

Love My Hair, located in Belhavel, Golden Island, was the first business to get its windows paints and Athlone Town Centre is set to see three units get on board.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent, Tina Kiernan, owner of Love My Hair, said she was looking to “jazz up” her windows when she saw Ger’s post.

“I saw it and knew straight away that it was something I wanted to get involved with. We got our window painted on Thursday evening, just to give people a taste for what’s to come in the next while in Athlone. Anything colourful and positive that can put a smile on people’s faces.

“People were walking by as it was being painted and I explained to them what the idea was, and they all thought it was brilliant.

“It can give business-owners something else to focus on during lockdown. The first lockdown was very hard. People online knew I wasn’t my usual happy self, so for something like this to come along now is great because I’m not going to let this lockdown take a hold of me,” Tina says.

She tagged other businesses on Facebook, and it soon “spread like wildfire.”

Signage will also be provided by Midlands Print to display four positive quotes that can be suggested by anyone through social media.

“We want to make it a community activity,” Gerard said. “Anybody can submit a quote to us on our Facebook page ‘Positive Vibes Athlone.’ We also want people to use #positivevibesathlone on social media to spread awareness about it.”

Businesses without shopfronts can still get involved by contacting the Facebook page and taking part in a planned movie reel of pictures, quotes and video messages.

A group of volunteers will continue to paint the windows over the coming days and weeks.