Locals and visitors alike are being encouraged to come along and enjoy an afternoon of free activities with fun for all the family, at this year’s Discover Athlone Day on Sunday June 14.
Now in its second year, the event will be used to showcase everything that is on offer in the area. Organised by Fáilte Ireland, Waterways Ireland, and Athlone Town Council, the open day will provide an opportunity to raise awareness of the tourism assets of the Athlone region.
A range of product offerings will be on display including visitor attractions, face painting, live music, and activities. Locals will be able to enjoy a historical walking tour of Athlone, a sub-aqua demonstration, boat trips, and follow a free craft trail to Clonmacnoise.
The Discover Athlone initiative is part of a broader campaign to develop and promote Ireland’s Lakelands and Inland Waterways which aims to significantly boost visitor numbers to the Lakeland regions over the next three years.
The event is also supported by www.athlone.ie, Athlone Chamber of Commerce, County Westmeath Tourism, and local businesses. Events are being co-ordinated locally via a steering group formed from representatives of local businesses and chaired by Tony McDermott, centre manager of the Golden Island Shopping Centre.
Speaking at the launch of this year’s event, Mayor of Athlone, Cllr Egbert Moran, said; “Athlone Town Council is pleased to work with Fáilte Ireland and Waterways Ireland in highlighting the visitor facilities we have on our doorstep. The Discover Athlone Day will give the people of Athlone and surrounding areas the opportunity to experience the wonderful visitor attractions, facilities, and services we have to offer so they can in turn become our best ambassadors in promoting Athlone as a visitor destination.”
This year a Discover Athlone Photography Competition is running in the lead up to the event, and both budding and professional photographers are invited to submit entries under the theme of ‘Athlone and its Waterways’. All entries should be delivered to the customer service desk in Athlone Towncentre before 5pm this Friday June 5.
In addition, Golden Island shopping centre is hosting a primary schools’ art competition. Entries from the school children will be on display in the centre during the week leading up to the event.
