To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Moydrum transmitting station, Mayor of Athlone Cllr Alan Shaw has proposed turning the station into a radio museum.
Speaking at this week’s Athlone Area meeting, Mayor Shaw requested the council write to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage and to the Minister for Communciations, Energy and Natural Resources requesting that consideration be given to the preservation of the transmitter station in Moydrum as part of “our national and technological heritage” as it “effectively represent three generations of broadcasting equipment, which are still in situ into a purpose built radio station”.
“Next year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the station; this piece of heritage needs to be preserved and made open to the public,” said Mayor Shaw.
“It could become a radio museum...it seems to be in good order inside, it just needs to be preserved. The station is of historic importance. It is a piece of heritage and we should be proud of it,” he added.
Support was given by Cllr Joe Whelan and Cllr Frankie Keena who pointed out that he had also written to RTÉ regarding the transmitter a number of years ago.
RTÉ’s response was that the broadcaster was looking into various options.
It was suggested by Cllr Mark Cooney that RTÉ also be contacted by Westmeath County Council regarding the Moydrum station while Cllr Boxer Moran reminded the meeting that it could be difficult to open a museum or visitor centre in such a residential area.
A letter is to be sent to both Ministers and RTÉ.
