Liam Heavin, CEO of Waterways Ireland triAthlone, launched both the triathlon and this year’s triFest in Athlone on Sunday last in the Sheraton Athlone Hotel.
Speaking about the festival, Mr Heavin said “This year we have a 10,000 square foot marquee in Athlone Civic Plaza and hopefully what you will see are the seeds of something great - Athlone’s annual summer festival.
“The line-up is excellent for this year. We have Got House DJ playing on Thursday evening, followed by Mullingar band The Blizzards on Friday and the infamous Mundy playing on Saturday. The weekend will be finished off with the Young Wolfe Tones on Sunday evening. We are lucky to have the support of Failte Ireland.”
Mr Heavin said he was “very excited” about both the race this year and hosting the European Championships in 2010. He thanked all the sponsors including Waterways Ireland whom he said have been “with them from the start”.
Athlone’s newest mayor, Cllr Mark Cooney, commended the Waterways Ireland triAthlone committee on bringing an event like this to the town.
Waterways Ireland triAthlone will see over 2,500 athletes take to the river Shannon and the streets of Athlone in what is the largest triathlon ever staged in Ireland and one of the top 10 races in Europe. Next year, Athlone will host the European championships when it is expected that about 5,000 athletes will participate in the European Championships as well as Waterways Ireland triAthlone.
Tickets for triFest are available by calling into Music World in Golden Island Shopping Centre, Athlone or visit www.trifest.ie for more information.
Tickets cost €10 for Thursday and Sunday night and €25 for Friday and Saturday night. A double ticket can be purchased for Friday and Saturday night at a cost of €40, however there is a limited number available.
