Mulryan to outline ambitious Athlone plans at council meeting

Roscommon County Council has confirmed that the CEO of the Ballymore property group, Sean Mulryan, will make a presentation to members on ambitious proposals to transform Athlone into a modern, sustainable city by 2040.

The CEO, along with company representatives, will attend next Monday's meeting of the local authority to outline Ballymore Property Group's vision to develop Athlone as the country's first green city.

Mulryan's proposal is for a modern, sustainable city of between 50,000 and 100,000 people within 25 years, with all the elements of progressive urban centre, including improved walking, cycling and public transport infrastructure, and improved facilities.

The masterplan pivots on a huge expansion of the Athlone campus of Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), with student numbers growing from 6,000 to 25,000.

Some 20,000 new homes are also envisioned in the longer-term.

At the December plenary meeting of Roscommon County Council, Fianna Fáil councillor Larry Brennan proposed that the company CEO be invited to detail his masterplan to members and outline the potential benefits such a development may have for the future of the county.

Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council Liam Callaghan said sufficient time would be set aside to hear Mulryan and his fellow company representatives outline his plans to the members.

"As a council we want to be best placed to provide input to the development plan, how it will work and how it can be implemented with the help of the local authority," the Cathaoirleach said.