The Strand car park in Athlone, pictured just before its recent reopening. Free parking will be offered in all council-owned car parks in the town between December 17 and December 24.

Free Christmas parking in Athlone's council car parks from next week

Adrian Cusack

Published: Fri 12 Dec 2025, 3:27 PM

From next Wednesday (December 17) until Christmas Eve, shoppers in Athlone can look forward to free Christmas parking in all council car parks in the town.

The annual initiative, which is designed to help support local trade during a vital time of year for retailers, has been running for well over a decade now.

The proposal to suspend parking charges in all council-owned car parks in Athlone from Wednesday, December 17, to Wednesday, December 24, was made by Cllr Aengus O'Rourke at the October meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District, where it received unanimous support.

Cllr O'Rourke previously described the removal of these parking charges at this time of year as "a small but significant incentive to shoppers to shop local and support local businesses at Christmas time".

In Mullingar, it was agreed to provide free parking in council-owned car parks on eight designated dates this year: November 28 and December 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 22 and 23.