Croí na hÉireann Festival biggest beneficiary in grant funding
The annual Croí na hÉireann Festival received the largest individual sum from the first round of festival and events grants allocated by the Athlone Moate Municipal District (AMMD) this year.
A total of €62,700 was awarded by the local authority to 26 local festivals and events which fulfilled the eligibility criteria for funding under the grants scheme.
The Croí na hÉireann Festival, which is due to take place next month, is a five day community celebration centering on St Patrick's Day parade. The committee have been awarded €13,000 towards this year's event.
Athlone River Festival, one of two major festivals to take place in Athlone during the summer, received a grant allocation of €10,000. Running in tandem with the Athlone River Festival, Féile na Sionainne, which has become established as an annual town 'fleadh ceoil', also received a significant allocation of €7,500.
CROÍLÁR Music & Arts Festival which is officially returning to Athlone for its second edition this April. The committee was awarded €3,000 as they continue their mission to give a platform to up-and-coming artists of all forms.
The Athlone Agricultural Show 2026 was awarded €5,000, while American Football Ireland's championship double header, primed to take place in Dubarry Park in July, received a sum of €2,500.
A sum of €2,500 was allocated to the active travel focused Athlone Bike Fest which will take place on the June bank holiday weekend, a similar amount allocated to Uisneach Management Ltd for the hosting of the Bealtaine Fire Festival in May of this year.
The two-day 'Samhain in the Heartlands' event planned for Uisneach in autumn was awarded €2,000, while the same sum was granted to the annual Moate Agricultural Show in August.
Athlone Triathlon Club have been awarded €1,750 towards the hosting of the National Aquathlon Championships in August.
The Moate St Patrick's Day committee were awarded €1,750 towards the hosting of this year's parade, while the Moate Town Team received €1,500 for an open cinema evening in the town.
The Spooktacular Summoning at Dún na Sí Amenity & Heritage Park Moate, which offers an immersive Halloween experience, drawing visitors deep into the heart of Irish myth, folklore, and Celtic ritual, was awarded €1,000 towards this year's event in October.
The Westmeath/Offaly branch of the Irish Draught Horse Breeders Association were awarded €1,000 for their 2026 show.
Other award recipients under the Festival & Event Grant Scheme were: Brosna Residents' Group Kilbeggan (€750), South Westmeath Ukrainian Representative Group towards an international integration day (€500), Dún na Sí Amenity and Heritage Park Moate for an Easter event and orienteering (€500), Feile Ceoil na Scoileanna (€500), Heartlands Pride Athlone (€500), Ballymore annual pitch and putt event (€500), Athlone Community Radio (€500), Tyrrellspass Tidy Towns (€500), Gaeltacht Atha Luain (€500), Kilbeggan Shamrocks GAA (€500) and Loughnavalley Tidy Towns (€450).
A total budget of €85,000 has been allocated by AMMD for the Festival & Events Grant Scheme 2026, with €22,300 now available for the second round of funding applications in the second half of the year.