The face of Athlone has certainly changed in the past 72 years, but one thing that has remained steadfast is the sense of community spirit in Assumption Road as the street prepares to celebrate its 72nd anniversary and the unveiling of a Siege of Jadotville Memorial to mark this occasion.
In 2010, we held our first event to mark the 60th anniversary of Assumption Road, an occasion which proved to be a great success for the residents. The organising committee has been busy this past three years putting together a fun filled weekend for all the family and hopes to reunite many neighbours of old, issuing an open invitation to all our residents past and present to attend the celebrations on Saturday, September 3 and Sunday, September 4. The committee is hoping that they will come along on the day to join in the celebrations.
As they put the plans in motion for this weekend's event, the committee cannot help but recollect some of the great memories of the street over the past seven decades. Some of them are simple memories of every day events such as playing rounders or football, of which there was a great tradition in Assumption Road. From football tournaments to fishing the River Shannon or playing games on the street, the residents have many happy memories of Assumption Road over the past 72 years. It is clear there has been a strong sense of community spirit on the street over the years, with the residents coming together on several occasions in a bid to create a better quality of life for their children, by ensuring there were football facilities for them and later playing a role in the establishment of St Kieran’s Community Centre, behind Assumption Road, Athlone.
The street was also the first to organise school bus transport for children, when an original committee approached Noel Henry to provide a bus run and this sense of community spirit remains intact today as the residents prepare to celebrate the street’s 72nd anniversary. The committee hopes to display a little bit of the street history on Sunday also by displaying old photographs of memorabilia of Assumption Road and its residents.
The organising committee of Anthony Merrigan, Chairman, Tina McCrossan, Vice Chairperson, Kathleen Webb, Secretary Martin Reilly, Treasurer, Anthony Reilly, Assistant Treasurer, and committee membersm Ann Monaghan, John McCrossan, Councillor Frankie Keena, Jim Henson, are all very busy finalising the programme of events for our 72nd anniversary celebrations, and the unveiling of our Siege of Jadotville Memorial, at 1pm on Sunday, September 4, at the Park, Assumption Road, Athlone.
The committee have a wide and varied programme of events planned Saturday, September 3, where we will be hosting military themed talks, stalls and displays at Saint Kieran’s Community Centre beside Tormey Villas, between 11am and 4pm. Our first military talk will be on the Siege of Jadotville, presented by retired Commandant Leo Quinlan, son of Commandant Pat Quinlan, Officer Commanding the Irish Soldiers, at the Siege of Jadotville. We will also be holding military talks on how to research soldiers who were killed in the First and Second World Wars, as presented by Anthony Merrigan. There will also be a talk on the Second World War.
On Sunday morning, September 4, from 10am to 11.30am, we have organised a children’s sports day organised which includes run for fun races, two legged races, egg and spoon races, and sack races for the children to take place on the pitch at Saint Kieran’s Community Centre.
Our Siege of Jadotville Memorial ceremony to remember, commemorate and honour the 155, Officers, Non Commissioned Officers (N.C.O’S ) and men of 'A' Company 35th Battalion the Congo, who were serving on a peacekeeping mission, as part of the United Nations Operation in the Congo (Opération des Nations Unies au Congo, ONUC ) will take place at 1pm on Sunday, September 4, at the Park, Assumption Road, Athlone.
Our memorial unveiling ceremony will include an opening address and reflections from distinguished speakers. A military march by Post 9, United Nations Veterans, Athlone, who will be led by Athlone Pipe Band, will then proceed through Assumption Road. At the Memorial site the ceremony will include a blessing of the memorial stone, the laying of a wreath, the song 'The Parting Glass', 'The Last Post' a recital of the soldier’s prayer, releasing of peace doves, the playing of our national anthem and the raising of our national flag.
On Sunday afternoon from 2pm and throughout the afternoon they will be a variety of music and entertainment for the adults on our street. There will be a magic show, face painting and musical entertainment for children. The committee have also arranged a street closure for the day with local access only.
The committee of Assumption Road Residents Association, would like to thank all who have sponsored this anniversary occasion, namely Westmeath County Council, Athlone Credit Union, Post 9 United Nation Veterans Athlone, Peter O’Callaghan, O’Callaghan Trade and Frames, Saint Kieran’s Community Centre, management of Apple Green, the contributions of Athlone and Moate Municipal Council, Ollie Dillion, Martin O’ Brien, Tom O’ Neill, Athlone, Spectrum Signs, Athlone, those who supported our gofundme page and Christmas and Easter raffles and all who have helped with this project in any way.
