Lecture on archaeological investigations at cycleway

Details of the archaeological investigations carried out as part of the construction of the cycleway from the Whitegates to Athlone Marina will be outlined at a public lecture this week.

The event, hosted by the Old Athlone Society, takes place today (Wednesday) in the Lough Ree Yacht Club, at Coosan, at 8.15pm

The speaker is Noel Dunne, a native of Monksland, Athlone, and has worked as a professional archaeologist for over 40 years. He has been a project archaeologist for over 20 years with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), formerly the National Roads Authority.

Noel was the Project Archaeologist for TII on the cycleway project. His illustrated presentation will explain the archaeological and architectural heritage investigations that were undertaken in advance of, and during, construction works. The cycleway extends through the Abbey Graveyard and the grounds of St. Vincent’s Hospital, formerly the Athlone Union Workhouse. The investigations mainly relate to these two locations. The presentation will also incorporate the heritage audiobook produced for the Scheme, which was titled ‘The Unsilent Stones: Conservations with the Inhabitants of Athlone’s Abbey Graveyard’.