Consultation event on major Athlone visitor centre plan tomorrow

A community consultation event on plans for a major new visitor experience in Athlone takes place on Thursday.

A world-class climate action centre known as Climate House Ireland is proposed for the existing RTÉ transmitter site in Moydrum, Athlone, where it will be combined with a heritage centre focusing on the historic Marconi transmitter.

A consultation event will take place this Thursday (June 18) at 7pm in the Douglas Hyde Theatre in TUS Athlone, hosted by Peatlands & People Foundation, a new social enterprise company which is developing the project.

The event will provide an opportunity for input on the proposed joint development of a Marconi Heritage Centre and Climate House on the former RTÉ transmitter site in Moydrum

Members of the project and design team will be in attendance to present plans and listen to feedback and ideas.

The informal event will give the local community the opportunity to voice their questions, concerns, and ideas for the project which is at the early planning stage. Attendees will be encouraged to share local heritage and stories for incorporation into the heritage aspect of the project.

The project team will also present initial ideas on the development of the Climate House which will be co located on site and which will offer connection to the Old Rail Trail Greenway and Crosswood Bog SAC.

The Climate House will incorporate an Encounter Experience, an immersive journey through storytelling and living landscapes, and a Futures Hub, a space for changemakers to meet, collaborate and share solutions, while the Marconi Centre will focus on the broadcasting heritage of the former RTÉ transmitter site. It’s thought that the Marconi Transmitter at the site may be the only transmitter of its kind intact and on-site on the location where it was in operation.