Archive TV footage shows Athlone as it was 45 years ago

RTE Archives has today shared footage online which shows Athlone town as it looked all of 45 years ago.

The one minute and 20 second clip, of Athlone scenes set to jaunty music, formed the introductory sequence for an episode of 'Hall's Pictorial Weekly' that was broadcast on November 30, 1977.

Local landmarks such as the Ritz Cinema, the IRA memorial at Custume Place, the town bridge and the Church of Saints Peter and Paul are all featured in the footage.

It also shows the busy two-way traffic on Church Street at a time when all traffic between Dublin and Galway had to pass through Athlone's central thoroughfare.

You can watch the clip, entitled 'An Athlone Afternoon, 1977' by clicking HERE.