Council members divided into two opposing camps this week over a suggestion by mayor Mark Cooney that Athlone Castle be reopened to the public until redevelopment works commence.
While the castle is due for a massive €3 million overhaul, expected to get under way in July, no date has yet been fixed, and Cllr Cooney felt the facility should be open to visitors in the meantime.
“I am not suggesting the entire facility open, but maybe the castle grounds could open - supervision would need to be minimal. Years ago before there was an interpretative centre people would just wander around. Given that it’s the tourist season and people are coming to Athlone, and that works may not have commenced by the triAthlone [July 1-4], I would ask members to support this,” said Cllr Cooney.
Cllr Gabrielle McFadden agreed, saying she recently had American visitors who wished to visit the castle but couldn’t.
“I strongly believe it should be open for the summer - there are 5,000 people expected for the Euro Festival. It is madness to close it for the summer and open again in November,” she said. There was support too from Cllrs Paul Hogan and Alan Shaw.
However, town clerk John Walsh argued that, without supervision, the castle environment is “hazardous”, and that the council did not have a budget to provide supervision.
“Athlone Castle is a hazardous environment with dangers for visitors in the absence of supervision. Such supervision is also necessary to protect the buildings and their contents.”
Cllr Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran came on board to support Mr Walsh.
“It’s a building site. The tourist office has moved out of it, and it is crazy to suggest opening it,” he told the mayor.
“We are long enough debating this redevelopment; we have been advised it is closed and there is a notice on the gate. People understand it has to happen. We should have looked at this before we closed the doors.”
Cllr Sheila Buckley-Byrne added that councillors “can’t have it every way”. “There is a level of preparation contractors have to put in place - it’s not safe to allow the public to roam around, our laws and our liability are different now. We have to take a little pain for a long-term gain,” she said.
Meanwhile, Cllr Aengus O’Rourke suggested large signage be erected outside the castle, describing the work under way and the timeframe involved.
