A civic reception for Liam Heavin and the organisers of last weekend’s triAthlone was mooted at the recent meeting of the town council.
Praise and congratulations were heaped on the event and its organisers during the council meeting this week by all councillors and the council executive.
Speaking after the motion for a civic reception Fianna Fail councillor Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran said that although Liam Heavin and the organising committee had got some criticism of late they deserves congratulations. “To see what he has done with such a small team...You have to look at the amount of people it brought to Athlone and the amount of coverage the town has gotten. All the athelees have praised the route. Liam deserves a civic reception.”
Fine Gael councillor Gabriel McFadden also praised the council staff who worked so hard to make the town look so well.
“This [triAthlone] has been fantastic advertisement for the town. There was a fantastic atmosphere in the town.” Cllr McFadden also suggested that the organising committe look at holding the event over the Sunday and Monday of a Bank Holiday next year in order to lessen the impact on business owners in the town, and added that she hope the event returns next year.
Fellow Fine Gael councillor Alan Shaw concluded that “Liam showed himself to be a great leader in the town”.
The Gardai and Army were also congratulated on their input to the weekend.
A date has yet to be set for the reception.
