In this week's Westmeath Independent

This week's Westmeath Independent is now on the shelves and features the best local news, sports, features and photography coverage.

Our stories include:

* Drumraney's Ruairi speaks of his recovery from a brain haemorrhage 

* Concern over Christmas water supply in Athlone after 12 outages since November

* 'Hugely positive' feedback to revamped Church Street

* Bishop of Elphin issues call to resist abortion laws

* Decision looming on Irish Water's Lough Ree extraction plan

* Local Muslim community gathering to celebrate birth of Prophet Muhammad

* Frustration for local man Kenny Tynan as State refuses to pay his medicinal cannabis costs

* 'Junior Mayors' from local schools honoured at Athlone event

* Athlone tenor sings in New York's Carnegie Hall

* A local lifeline: John Brennan tells us how Moate Men's Shed provided "a lifeline" for him after the death of his beloved wife Vera. 

* PHOTO SPECIALS:   Moate, Athlone and Monksland Christmas Markets; Launch of new Sheraton bar and bistro.  

* Henshaw faces battle to make start of Six Nations campaign

* Cooney happy with his first outing as Westmeath manager  

* St Brigid's appoint new management team

All this and more is in this week's paper, which is out now. A digital copy can be purchased through the 'ePaper' link towards the top of this page.