In an all out effort to generate more activity for Athlone’s retailers, restaurants, hotels, and pubs, Athlone Chamber and Athlone Town Council will be offering free all-day parking in five town centre car parks this weekend, which between them have a total of 1,000 car-parking spaces.
The car parks at the Fair Green, St Marys, The Strand, Connaught Street, and Athlone Castle, and on-street parking at Pearse Street, Connaught Street, Northgate Street, Church Street, Mardyke Street, Castlemaine Street, and John Broderick Street are all free all day this Friday to Sunday December 19 to 21. This is a considerable investment by the council as they will forego revenue to help boost the shopping trade in Athlone.
President of Athlone Chamber, Aengus O’Rourke, announced “The chamber asked the council to work with us to try and attract shoppers to town and to facilitate local shoppers who are loyal to Athlone by providing free parking for one weekend in the lead-up to Christmas. Without hesitation the council kindly agreed to free parking all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Dcember 19, 20, and 21.
“It’s at times like these that such initiatives are required and appreciated. In agreeing to facilitate this initiative the council has demonstrated an awareness of the challenges that businesses are facing this Christmas and into the new year. The chamber will continue to work closely with the council and other authorities during the coming year to support this region in every way possible.
“We would also encourage anybody that has ideas or suggestions on how we as a chamber might be able to assist Athlone’s business environment to please contact us on (090 ) 6498838.”
Athlone mayor Egbert Moran, added; “Athlone Town Council is entirely supportive of Athlone’s businesses and hopes that the waiving of car parking fees and increased traffic management in the town will make shopping locally considerably more attractive to the people of the Athlone region, saving on parking costs and avoiding the hassle of braving the queues of traffic in other cities.”
He also urged local businesses to offer further incentives to shoppers such as discounts or savings to match the council’s offer and ensure Christmas shoppers get good value in Athlone.
An increased Garda presence in the town this weekend will aid the free flow of traffic and direct vehicles to free car parks. Traffic wardens will not be required to patrol the car parks, but will be increasing their efforts to keep the streets clear to help motorists get in, around, and out of the town centre as freely as possible.
Athlone Chamber has been in touch with many of the local hotels, which are offering special weekend deals to people who want to come to Athlone to shop for the weekend.
The Prince of Wales is offering special deals on Saturday December 20, with a special rate of €99 per person sharing, which includes overnight accommodation, breakfast, and full Christmas dinner at their Casino Royale party night! Their special offer is extended to include Sunday night, bed & breakfast, for only €30 per person sharing. Call (090 ) 6476666 or email [email protected] to avail of the special offer.
The Radisson SAS is offering a promotional offer of €149 bed and super buffet breakfast with complimentary use of Synergy Health and Fitness Centre. This rate is per room per night and is available on December 19 and 20.
The Sheraton is offering a special Christmas shopping offer, with bed & breakfast plus a voucher for €50 for Athlone Towncentre, from €109 per person sharing.
