The new look Civic Square will become home to a sculpture of John Count McCormack at the end of the month.
Westmeath County Council will formally unveil the sculpture of one of Athlone’s most famous sons in a newly refurbished Civic Square together with the opening of an exhibition in his honour at Athlone Castle Visitor Centre and Museum on Friday October 24.
Athlone Municipal District members, forrmerly Athlone town councillors, have been pushing the installation of an appropriate commemoration for the famour tenor.
In 2011, when the previous exhibition area was removed from the castle, a funding application was made to Fáilte Ireland under their Capital Programme for a dedicated McCormack exhibition area. This application was unsuccessful and the the town council agreed to provide funding from their own resources for renovating the civic square, commissioning a sculpture of John Count McCormack, and creating an exhibition area in Athlone Castle.
In April of this year the town council agreed to a layout for the John McCormack Square and the location of an exhibition area in Athlone Castle with a completion date of October.
The Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, Paddy Hill, will unveil the sculpture, rename the square, and officially open the exhibition area in Athlone Castle.
