Athlone Castle works set to continue during main tourist season

A major programme of public realm works around Athlone Castle got underway this week and is set to continue in the heart of Athlone right throughout the busy summer tourist season.

The €1.8 million project, which began on Monday of this week, will include a planned overhaul of the public space around the castle entrance, and at the front of the castle alongside the River Shannon, with construction work not due to finish until February 2026.

The July meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District received an update, with councillors being told that the planned works at the castle will continue for the next eight months.

However, the meeting was told that every effort will be made “to minimise disruption to the operations of the castle”, which will remain open, and other local businesses.

Viking Tours, which operates its business from the river bank alongside Athlone Castle, is to remain “in situ, and will be accommodated” according to the update which was given by District Engineer Willie Ryan.

The contractor is also coordinating with other events including Jim O'Connor Memorial Castle to Castle Swim and the River Festival, councillors were told.

Athlone Castle is one of the region's top tourist attractions, with visitor numbers reaching an all-time high of over 37,000 last year.

This week's update contained an assurance that the contractors, Richard Nolan Civil Engineering Ltd, would ensure that all stakeholders receive detailed information about “work schedules, timelines and any potential impacts on businesses” during the construction period.

Westmeath County Council also gave an assurance that it will work with the contractor to minimise disruption “during peak tourism season.”

The project, which secured planning approval in 2023, is due to see the removal of existing ramps, steps and railings to improve accessibility and the usability of the space for visitors to gather and linger and for events and festivals, enhancements, including both soft and hard landscaping, wayfinding signage and interpretation, seating and lighting .

The planned works will also include the installation of a totem in front of Athlone Castle comprised of two slender information panels as part of creating a modern visitor experience.

Cllr Frankie Keena asked if the council was planning to install CCTV on Athlone Castle as part of the public realm project, but Director of Services Jackie Finney said this was not part of the remit of the local authority.

“The Gardai monitor CCTV in the town, it is not our job,” she said.

Separately, Ms Finney told the meeting that the cost of lighting up Athlone Castle “could be more” than a figure of €250,000, which was the estimate given to the council in 2023.

The decision to give a presentation on the planned public realm works at Athlone Castle was taken in light of sustained criticism about the lack of detail on the project from a number of councillors at last month's municipal district meeting.

Clllr Aengus O'Rourke told the June meeting that he did not know “the extent of the works” planned for Athlone Castle and was unable to answer questions put to him on the west side of the town.

“I don't know when they (the works) start, or who the contractor is, and neither do the local stakeholders, it's madness, we're a bit loose and easy around the plans,” he said.

Referring to a previous occasions when stakeholders had not been informed of works in time, Cllr O'Rourke claimed there had been “blue murder” in the town as a result.

He received unanimous support from his colleagues at the June meeting when he requested that a presentation be given on the planned public realm works at Athlone Castle, with Cllr Frankie Keena adding that “time is of the essence for engagement and communication.”