Athlone has been chosen as the first location in the Lakelands and Inlands region to host an open day, on Sunday October 5, showcasing what is on offer in the area.
Organised by Fáilte Ireland, Waterways Ireland, Athlone Town Council, and local businesses, the open day will provide an opportunity to raise awareness of the tourism assets of the Athlone region.
Kevin Kidney, general manager Fáilte Ireland East and Midlands, said “Ireland’s Lakelands and Inland Waterways can provide unique experiences for everyone. The natural environment provides excellent opportunities to participate in a huge range of sightseeing, cultural, and outdoor activities. We hope Athlone Open Day will give local people a greater awareness of what to see and do in their community, and therefore allow them to act as ambassadors for their region with both domestic and overseas visitors.”
Speaking at the launch in the Athlone Civic Centre, Deputy Mayor of Athlone, Cllr Kieran Molloy agreed, “The people of Athlone are indeed our best ambassadors and the Town Council is pleased to join with Fáilte Ireland and Waterways Ireland in highlighting awareness of our visitor facilities among the local population through this showcase and enhancing their capacity to promote tourism in Athlone”.
A range of product offerings will be on display including visitor attractions, face-painting, entertainment, and activities. Locals will be able to enjoy a historical walking tour of Athlone, angling demonstrations, boat trips, and follow a free craft trail to Clonmacnoise. Events are being co-ordinated locally via a steering group formed from representatives of local businesses and chaired by Tony McDermott, the general manager of Golden Island Shopping Centre.
The Discover Athlone initiative is part of a broader campaign to develop and promote Ireland’s Lakelands and Inland Waterways and which aims to significantly boost visitor numbers to the Lakeland regions over the next three years.
According to Martin Dennany, marketing director for Waterways Ireland, “We are delighted to be involved with the Discover Athlone initiative and are confident that the day itself will be a great success and become a blue-print for future events in other regions within the Lakelands.”
