Athlone's the place to be in 2010

THERE'S a plethora of spectacular festivals and events organised to take place in Athlone throughout this year, which will not only provide all kinds of entertainment for locals and visitors alike, but also an economic boost of millions of euro. It promises to be a bumper year for Athlone's tourism-related businesses catering to all interests from sport and history, to culture and music. Events that are bound to provide a huge economic boost to the town include the week-long European People's Festival, which takes place in July and is expected to draw thousands of visitors to the town from all over Ireland and Europe, as will the European Triathlon Championships also in July, when the town will host over 5,000 athletes not to mention their support teams and supporters. Last year, local businesses, tourism and accommodation providers took in about €3.5 million during the triAthlone weekend, while further income was generated by the crowds attending the Community Games finals over three weekends. And this year, with the European People's Festival returning for the first time in 15 years and plans to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Athlone Castle underway, Athlone can only grow stronger as a tourist destination. Here's a sample of what's on offer Lough Ree International Pike Angling Festival 2010 April 14 to 16 The festival is open to all anglers and will take place on Lough Ree with boat angling over three days. Lough Ree is 16 miles long and the second largest lake on the Shannon system and it has been chosen based on the quality of its pike angling. Sponsored by Failte Ireland with a guaranteed first prize of €3,000. RTE All-Ireland Drama Festival April 30 to May 8 in The Dean Crowe Theatre The RTE All Ireland Drama Festival is the biggest event of its kind in Ireland. It comes at the end of a gruelling circuit in which over thirty drama groups from all over Ireland compete at 35 local festivals held nationwide. The top nine groups who qualify for a place in the finals in Athlone will battle it out for the premier award and for the honour of being declared All Ireland Champions under the watchful eye of distinguished adjudicator Tom Doherty. There are also individual acting and technical awards. The event has been held in Athlone since its inception in 1953 and attracts hundreds of visitors to the town each year. The festival is supported by a lively fringe involving art exhibitions, street theatre, music recitals and theatre workshops. HSE Community Games National Finals May 28 to 30, August 13 to 15 and August 20 to 22 This is the second year that the national finals are being held in Athlone Institute of Technology and again, hundreds of young competitors from all around Ireland will come together over three weekends to compete in fields including athletics, team sports and art. Goldsmith International Literary Festival June 4 to 6 Goldsmith International Literary Festival is the third oldest event of its kind in Ireland. The event has recently undergone a transformation to become more cutting edge and to address some of the most topical and controversial issues facing 21st century Ireland. Building on its previous twenty-plus years, it has established itself as one of the foremost and most highly respected schools of its type in Ireland with all aspects of Goldsmith's life, writings, and society explored over the years. The Three Rivers Storytelling Festival June Taking place in Athlone and Ballinasloe libraries, this annual festival features international and Irish storytellers who highlight one of Ireland's greatest treasures; its stories. With events for both children and adults, the festival aims to strengthen bonds in the community through the sharing and celebration of story. Featured storytellers include Liz Warren, Liz Weir, Pat Ryan, Kasia Lech and many more. An evening concert takes place in Athlone on June 19. triAthlone and the ITU European Triathlon Championships July 1 to 4 Athlone is hosting the 2010 European triathlon championships as part of triAthlone. The course of the weekend will see over 5,000 athletes from around Ireland and Europe will compete in over 12 different triathlon events. There will be six races taking place over the four days, including a team relay, the ParaTri and the European Championships for both men and women. The European People's Festival July 24 to July 31 This unique festival for Ireland was last held in Athlone in 1996. Hosted by Athlone Town Council over seven days, under the name Euro Festival 2010, it promises to bring a unique flavour of the diverse and distinctive culture and language of our European colleagues to the town. Almost 900 participants from 15 European countries including Finland, Portugal and Greece will be Athlone's guests for the week as they compete in sport, art, photography and street theatre events. Cultural performances, each evening and at lunchtime, cookery demonstrations and the Euro-village where countries will serve up their traditional food and drink and you can learn more about their homelands. The Shannon Rally July 23 to August 1 2010 is the 50th anniversary of the Shannon Rally. This year the event starts in Carrick on Shannon and concludes in Athlone. The rally is designed as a fun, family event, with a competitive element, and showcases the wider Shannon region to legions of boating enthusiasts. The Athlone Music Festival July 31 to August 1 This is the first time for the Athlone Music Festival and was only announced last week. Derry band The Undertones and English singer-songwriter Hazel O'Connor have been confirmed for the festival, and organisers are currently in advanced negotiations with other well-known performers. Some 25 to 30 acts are to perform at the two-day event and a total of 5,000 two-day tickets are expected to go on sale for the festival, which will be staged inside a large tent at Dubarry Park. Lough Ree Festival of Golf July 25 to August 2 This week long event takes place at Athlone Golf Club which will host daily competitions for all golfers from Ireland and overseas. Every day will see a different competition including foursomes, fourball and singles. The course has already hosted the Irish Interprovinicial Championships in 2008 and the Irish Youths' Close in 2009. Athlone Literary Festival September 24 - 26 The Athlone Literary Festival has its origins in the John Broderick Weekend held in May 1999. The festival is aimed at readers and writers and all those who enjoy good conversation and good literature. An annual event in a town with many literary associations. 800th anniversary of Athlone Castle December To mark the 800th anniversary of Athlone Castle - one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area - Athlone Town Council will spent €2.5 million on refurbishment works. These works are currently at design stage and will have to go to tender in March. The project will last until early December and then the council plan to celebrate the new-look site in the middle or end of December. This opening, as well as the extensive refurbishment works, will mark the 800th anniversary of the castle's foundation and it's hoped that the new displays and more interactive presentations will breathe new life into the attraction, enticing more local, national and international visitors. The current lay-out and displays in the castle have been in place since 1991 and the refurbishment is a much-welcome project that guarantees the building will be brought right into the 21st century.