Athlone councillors this week welcomed the establishment of Athlone Art & Heritage Ltd, a private limited company set up to manage the council’s artistic and heritage facilities including Athlone Castle and the new art gallery and artist studios.
The board of directors of the new company will include the mayor and another council representative, the director of services, the town clerk, and town librarian, as well as representatives of Athlone Chamber, AIT, the Dean Crowe Theatre, and the Old Athlone Society, along with local artists and a local historian.
Mayor Cllr Sheila Buckley Byrne said the development was “an important part of the development of the castle and Fr Mathew Hall”.
Responding to concerns that the board comprise active members who attend meetings, director of services Barry Kehoe confirmed that the composition of the board would be reviewed after a year and that there would be scope to include new members.
Town clerk John Walsh also revealed that the new artist studios on Abbey Road have been advertised and that interviews would be taking place in the coming weeks.
