The Central Bank is to launch a special €10 coin later this month commemorating Athlone’s John Count McCormack.
The launch takes place on January 29 at the Teacher’s Club in Parnell Square, Dublin and will be attended by local council officials and elected members, as well as members of the John McCormack Society in Athlone.
The news was announced at Athlone Town Council’s budget meeting on Tuesday where the local authority also clarified its objectives and McCormack-related spending plans for the coming year.
Some €60,000 has been set aside for the McCormack sculpture which could be completed by the end of the year.
Fourteen preliminary artist submissions have been made and the council will now decide which ones to follow up on.
Along with this, €200,000 will be used to improve the Civic Square in the town centre, and the square will be renamed in the tenor’s honour. It forms part of 2014 spending on arts and heritage in the town.
When Athlone Arts and Heritage Ltd and Ecom Athlone Ltd are combined into one new entity - Athlone Arts and Tourism - later this spring, the company will have €310,000 for its day to day running, €30,000 less than the two companies had in 2013.
At Tuesday’s meeting the council executive was keen to point out that it is not the role of the Luan Gallery to bring in a sizeable income. Rather, those who visit the gallery invariably visit the castle where they pay an admission fee and will also visit other parts of the town and spend their money in Athlone.
