A design image showing how new directional signage planned for Athlone is expected to look.

Athlone Castle entrance and surrounds in line for revamp

A plan to "declutter" the entrance and surroundings of Athlone Castle, in order to create "a more meaningful public space" was outlined at a recent council meeting.

The June meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District included a presentation by design consultants appointed to draw up both a 'public realm enhancement scheme' for the Castle and a 'wayfinding', or directional signage, plan for the town.

Fáilte Ireland funding helped to finance the consultants' role, with Urban Agency architects serving as the project leaders, while graphic design agency Originate worked on the signage element.

The Athlone Castle revamp will include the removal of railings around its entrance in order to help ensure "a clear view of the river from Market Square," Rory McGuire of Urban Agency told the meeting.

He said one of the aims was to "create a more meaningful public space and highlight the entrance to the Castle," because, at present, "if you're standing in Market Square, looking onto the Castle, it's not very inviting."

New steps down to the riverfront, from Market Square, are planned. The area between the Castle and the river, which is due to incorporate part of the Dublin to Galway greenway, is expected to see the addition of new benches, bicycle stations and possibly a "children's lookout" point.

Foliage to be planted in the area will be based on the nearby Shannon Callows ecosystem, with wetland grasses and birch trees among the plant life proposed.

The wayfinding or directional signage strategy for the town outlined at the meeting would include 'fingerpost' signs pointing visitors toward landmarks such as the Castle, the Luan Gallery and St Peter and Paul's Church.

The meeting was told that the typography to be used on the signs was chosen based on considerations such as simplicity, legibility and the historic heritage of the town. The 'Politica' font was chosen for the English wording on the signs, while the 'Prophet' font will be used for the Irish placename translations.

Council Director of Services Barry Kehoe told the meeting it was hoped the work around the castle could proceed "quite quickly" as planning permission for it was already in place.

He said the council would revert to the members with more details on the wayfinding strategy "in due course".

The new Mayor of the Athlone Moate district, Cllr Vinny McCormack, said the proposals looked "really impressive" and he asked if the wayfinding strategy might "be carried over to other parts of the district like Moate and Kilbeggan."

Cllr Frankie Keena also spoke about Athlone's new status as a university town and asked if there was a possibility of adding 'university town' branding to the new signage.

Responding, Lucas Bachega, of the graphic design consultants Originate, said the design of the signage strategy was put together specifically for Athlone and that it "might not represent other areas as well."

He said he did not believe it would be advisable to incorporate another branding, such as mentions of Athlone as a university town, in the signage at this stage.

Councillors Keena and Aengus O'Rourke also asked for an update on the long-awaited new floodlighting at Athlone Castle and the town bridge. They were told by Mr Kehoe that the new lighting would be put in place, but that it was separate from what was being discussed in the presentation.

Mr Kehoe clarified that the proposed regeneration of Market Square was also a separate initiative, saying it would be "a big project" in an "under-utilised space in the centre of town."