Pages from the Past

1860 YMCA announces Athlone plans The Young Men's Christian Association announced in early August, 1860, that it intended to open a reading room for the benefit of the young men of the town. The association said it hoped the room would be "liberally supported by them" and that it would afford the means of both mental improvement and friendly intercourse. Those wishing to join should contact the secretary, D. Baldwin. The subscription was 2s per quarter. The annual meeting of the association was to be held on the following Wednesday in the Primitive Wesleyan Methodist Church on Northgate Street. No takers for the council chair With the chairman Patrick Rourke absent, there was no takers for the position of chair at the regular meeting of Athlone Town Commission in early August. The report read as follows: "The following attended: Dr. Hethrington, N.E. Abbott, M. Lyster, P. Lyster, E. Sproule, G. Everard, J. Murtagh, M. Geoghegan, A. Robinson and L. Kelly. For nearly an hour these gentlemen sat in contemplative silence round the table, each in succession having refused to take the chair. At length when on the point of separating, a messenger was sent for Mr. John McDonnell, who consented to preside, and the business of the meeting was proceeded with." 1910 Regatta's back on again Having announced the previous week that a public meeting hosted by Athlone Boat Club had decided not to proceed with the annual regatta due to a lack of interest among the town's business community, the Westmeath Independent was able to confirm a u-turn the following week. It followed a second public meeting hosted in the town. The paper reported: "That we are able to announce this week the revival of The People's Regatta is evidence that Athlone is coming back to something of its old self. We felt confident all along that Athlone only needed the stimulus of action to put itself right after years of lethargy and indifference to all kinds of sport. The reorganisation of the Regatta too, we can hope, is only the incentive to greater things in the future. The difficulty all along has been to get the people together and to set up the little necessary organisation that is required. To this end there was the obstacle that while Athlone is singularly free from petty social distinctions, the population is so broken up in social recreation life, into different haunts where they foregather, that the unity needed for purposes where the assistance of all is required cannot be established. This is due to the absence of one central club or hall, which should be a common meeting ground." The u-turn came after a public meeting held in the Fr Mathew Hall for the purpose of reviving the regatta. The meeting was chaired by Mr M.J. Hughes, an urban councillor, who outlined the purpose was to establish a good working committee. J. O'Brien, UDC, and John FAllon were elected honorary secretaries and Mr John Hannon was chosen as treasurer. The following was the committee elected: P. Geraghty, John Lennon, O.J. Dolan, J. Muldoon, J. Gilmour, W. Finnerty. W Fetherestone, M. Broderick, P.J Lennon, P. Ward, E. Browne, F. Browne, G. Hynds, R. Baile, H. Connell, M. Cox, T. Sweeney, J. Potter,, W. Walsh, J Macken, E. Farrell, McDrmott Hayes and P. Murray. 1960 White lines "a danger to pedestrians" Westmeath County Council heard claims in July 1960 that white lines which had been freshly painted on the Athlone to Moate road represented " a danger to pedestrians and cyclists". Cllr JJ McAuley said he realised the white lines were a great help to motorists, however, he said the particular road was narrow. "When cars were meeting, they kept well over and there was little room for cyclists or pedestrians. An English cyclist had recently been knocked down," the paper reported. However, another councillor, Mr. T. McAuliffe said he had heard nothing but praise for the white lines. 8pm Sunday pub closing in winter introduced New licensing hours for public houses came into effect in July 1960 - and were not met with universal satisfaction, as the Westmeath Independent reported that month. The paper said: "In towns and rural areas in the midlands there is much dissatisfaction about the Sunday opening hours which are from 12.30pm to 2pm and from 5pm to 9pm. In some areas exemption orders had been in force under the old Act to cater for tourists and the closing hours varied from 10pm to 11pm. The new Act wiped out those orders and makes it compulsory on publicans to close at 9pm on Sundays in Summer and 8pm during the winter months. The change to the earlier closing hours has come in for much criticism by members of the licensed trade and customers in these parts. It will be seen, therefore, that the discontent about the hours is not confined solely to seaside resorts - it is nationwide."