Athlone thread

rn · 07-03-2021 2:46pm

Ya, concur bus service is good. But covid19 restrictions have restricted the service a bit

Sue de Nimes · 07-03-2021 2:53pm

rn wrote: »

Ya, concur bus service is good. But covid19 restrictions have restricted the service a bit

Thanks for that. It is just so frustrating at the moment with the lack of housing stock available in Athlone. We have agreed the sale of our home here and will need to wait until that completes before being able to buy in Ireland. It is just pretty stressful not even knowing if there will be anything on the market to buy

yabadabado · 07-03-2021 3:19pm

I thought there was a decent level of housing stock in Athlone?

Two big developments planned as well ,think one has been approved (beside The Bounty) and the other one in Brawney ,planning was submitted recently iirc .About 1200 units altogether.

Sue de Nimes · 07-03-2021 3:21pm

Looking at Daft.ie there is very little. Much less than there was before lockdown. I've spoken to most of the local estate agents and they all say the same thing, they have people who want to sell and people who want to buy but lockdown has screwed things.

Also, new developments are going to be out of our budget. We can't avail of any of the incentives and all the new developments are priced on the assumption that buyers get these grants.

We are now looking further away in places like Carrick-On-Shannon and Cavan as well

rn · 07-03-2021 9:31pm

There's nothing that's movable into... I know thats subjective statement. But IMHO everything currently on the market needs extensive redecoration or even renovation.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater · 09-03-2021 3:23am

Yeah, anything half decent is going for 10-15% above what I would have thought worth it. I've seen a bit of kite flying going on on Daft for houses, particularly in the Monksland and Bealnamullia areas, being thrown up for mad money and then being taken down a few weeks later, but not being sold.

A new development of reasonably priced and well finished units would be a welcome addition to the area and take the pressure off. Feels like we have been waiting a long time now.

Sue de Nimes · 09-03-2021 9:30am

Anyone able to tell me what River Village is like? It is the only habitable stuff available in our budget at the moment. It does seem like the stuff there is overpriced though - by, like Dr. Noisewater says, 10-15%

TimHorton · 09-03-2021 9:40am

Sue de Nimes wrote: »

Anyone able to tell me what River Village is like? It is the only habitable stuff available in our budget at the moment. It does seem like the stuff there is overpriced though - by, like Dr. Noisewater says, 10-15%

Good Location but Tight - Houses look small and compact - Was jokingly called "Toytown" at one point.

Sue de Nimes · 09-03-2021 9:50am

Yeah, the houses look really small.

AdrianG08 · 09-03-2021 12:33pm

The Woodville estate in Athlone is very nice, have relatives living in there and the houses (even the semi d's) are large (mostly 4 bed I believe).

Sue de Nimes · 09-03-2021 12:35pm

Might be out of our budget if they are 4 beds. We are mainly looking at 3 bed detached houses.

Plumbthedepths · 09-03-2021 12:56pm

Sue de Nimes wrote: »

Might be out of our budget if they are 4 beds. We are mainly looking at 3 bed detached houses.

Without knowing what you budget is, a three bed detached in Athlone close to a bus route and amenities is going to be expensive.

Sue de Nimes · 09-03-2021 1:21pm

We are looking around €180,000.

There were houses selling for under that as recently as November

Plumbthedepths · 09-03-2021 1:25pm

Sue de Nimes wrote: »

We are looking around €180,000.

There were houses selling for under that as recently as November

I'm from Athlone but live outside the town. You didn't see a three bed detached modern house for 180 without having to spend a substantial sum upgrading it. Although location is a big factor. There are areas of the town I wouldn't live in if I got the house for free.

Sue de Nimes · 09-03-2021 1:27pm

Sorry, that was a typo above. We are looking at 3 bed semis.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater · 09-03-2021 10:34pm

Sue de Nimes wrote: »

Anyone able to tell me what River Village is like? It is the only habitable stuff available in our budget at the moment. It does seem like the stuff there is overpriced though - by, like Dr. Noisewater says, 10-15%

Large, mixed development, built in mid 2000s. Lots of renters. Some of the houses are kept lovely, others not so much. Some good sized houses in there, but anything that's actually for sale in there is very small and well overpriced. Absolutely fine as an area to live though.

Having said that, as someone originally from the Athlone area, would I pay 175k for a mid terrace house in River Village? Probably not.

veryangryman · 18-03-2021 5:36pm

Update on the last mile of the Greenway Westmeath end

Construction work on this section was paused shortly after commencing between Jan 6th and March 8th in accordance with Government CV19 guidelines. Contractor back on site now working in St Vincents Hospital section.

Plan is to have it finished for August Bank Holiday weekend. This planned opening date in June is delayed by 2 months because of above CV 19 closure of construction sites.

Regards

Michael Kelly Chartered Engineer

Senior Executive Engineer,

Westmeath County Council,

National Roads Office,

roosterman71 · 18-03-2021 5:55pm

Council seem to have another brain fart

https://www.westmeathindependent.ie/2021/03/18/design-of-new-athlone-town-centre-revamp-published/

Going to pedestrianise Sean Costello street. Would mean traffic having to turn at that junction where O'Neils was. Surely that would be carnage trying to get around that corner

veryangryman · 18-03-2021 6:52pm

roosterman71 wrote: »

Council seem to have another brain fart

https://www.westmeathindependent.ie/2021/03/18/design-of-new-athlone-town-centre-revamp-published/

Going to pedestrianise Sean Costello street. Would mean traffic having to turn at that junction where O'Neils was. Surely that would be carnage trying to get around that corner

AFAIK Mr O Rourke plans a CPO of O Neills and Finlays buildings which if successful would lead to bulldozers and hence, the requisite space of Combine Harvesters to turn.

18-03-2021 8:41pm

And yet another set of bloody traffic lights, as if there aren't enough already!

rn · 18-03-2021 9:02pm

Should simplify traffic management. It's a great idea. Hope they can quickly move to implementing it. Sean costello Street is a key part of Athlone and the more cars that can be removed from the town centre, the better.

roosterman71 · 18-03-2021 10:36pm

veryangryman wrote: »

AFAIK Mr O Rourke plans a CPO of O Neills and Finlays buildings which if successful would lead to bulldozers and hence, the requisite space of Combine Harvesters to turn.

When it's done, I'll bring the combine for a spin to test it out

rn wrote: »

Should simplify traffic management. It's a great idea. Hope they can quickly move to implementing it. Sean costello Street is a key part of Athlone and the more cars that can be removed from the town centre, the better.

Are they removing them or just diverting them around that street?

Mearings · 19-03-2021 2:20pm

Divertissement.

veryangryman · 19-03-2021 11:55pm

Id imagine well see full pedestrianisation dunnes to costume place before we're all dead. Yes there's alot of things that will delay this re the strand wolfe tone st etc but I definitely see it coming

dePeatrick · 20-03-2021 3:52pm

Deleted User wrote: »

And yet another set of bloody traffic lights, as if there aren't enough already!

Should be enough room for a roundabout there, way smoother than lights.

roosterman71 · 20-03-2021 6:20pm

dePeatrick wrote: »

Should be enough room for a roundabout there, way smoother than lights.

If you mean one of those little ones painted on the road, then yeah there is. Anything sticking out of the ground would cause havoc for buses/trucks/people driving cars who think they are driving an artic.

dePeatrick · 22-03-2021 2:31am

roosterman71 wrote: »

If you mean one of those little ones painted on the road, then yeah there is. Anything sticking out of the ground would cause havoc for buses/trucks/people driving cars who think they are driving an artic.

No I don’t mean that, what I mean is a real roundabout, have wondered why there is not one at the Crescent, enough room for one and it provides way smoother traffic movement. Having said that even those small painted ones do work as well.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater · 22-03-2021 3:02am

There was one at the crescent up until about 10 years ago but much like they did with a lot of the roundabouts in Galway, it was ditched for a much more complex traffic management system.

rn · 22-03-2021 7:44am

The ballymahon Road and town ring Road have much more significance now. For a round about to take that volume of traffic on a fair basis, it would need to be huge. We've traffic lights so that the three heavy volume routes move at all times.

veryangryman · 22-03-2021 10:22am

dePeatrick wrote: »

No I don’t mean that, what I mean is a real roundabout, have wondered why there is not one at the Crescent, enough room for one and it provides way smoother traffic movement. Having said that even those small painted ones do work as well.

That would encourage cars to go near the area, which will not be encouraged in the future.

Which would be fine if Golden Island was north of the town and accessible via the bypass. But of course, such a thing would kill the town centre. Next time you're in that queue of cars on a Saturday, see how many of them turn off prior to the Dunnes Roundabout. Less than 10% in my experience.

Anyway, yeah the junction is cat. For motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. A stroke of genius if that was what they were aiming for.

munsterman2008 · 25-03-2021 12:02am

Hi All,

I'm looking for two things locally in Athlone:

1. A weights bench, with weights - online seems to be out of stock most places (still)
2. Ironically, somewhere to buy a fresh cooked full Irish breakfast - it's been a long time. Anywhere doing it take away?

Thanks.

rn · 25-03-2021 12:24am

munsterman2008 wrote: »

Hi All,

I'm looking for two things locally in Athlone:

1. A weights bench, with weights - online seems to be out of stock most places (still)
2. Ironically, somewhere to buy a fresh cooked full Irish breakfast - it's been a long time. Anywhere doing it take away?

Thanks.

Can't help you with the fitness equipment, but for full Irish Kellys cafe in monksland have a takeaway box. Operating out of a hatch on the side of the cafe.

Savoryfare also doing taka away breakfast, but I find them expensive with no difference in quality.

Best breakfast in athlone is loaves and fishes, but I think they not doing breakfast takeaway. Look for menu's on Facebook.

munsterman2008 · 25-03-2021 12:59am

rn wrote: »

Can't help you with the fitness equipment, but for full Irish Kellys cafe in monksland have a takeaway box. Operating out of a hatch on the side of the cafe.

Savoryfare also doing taka away breakfast, but I find them expensive with no difference in quality.

Best breakfast in athlone is loaves and fishes, but I think they not doing breakfast takeaway. Look for menu's on Facebook.

I'll try one of these tomorrow morning thanks for your speedy and helpful response.

munsterman2008 · 26-03-2021 2:22pm

rn wrote: »

Can't help you with the fitness equipment, but for full Irish Kellys cafe in monksland have a takeaway box. Operating out of a hatch on the side of the cafe.

Savoryfare also doing taka away breakfast, but I find them expensive with no difference in quality.

Best breakfast in athlone is loaves and fishes, but I think they not doing breakfast takeaway. Look for menu's on Facebook.

I got Savoryfare in Monksland yesterday morning - full Irish, €10 and it was really delish. Thanks!

FintanMcluskey · 26-03-2021 2:26pm

rn wrote: »

Can't help you with the fitness equipment, but for full Irish Kellys cafe in monksland have a takeaway box. Operating out of a hatch on the side of the cafe.

Savoryfare also doing taka away breakfast, but I find them expensive with no difference in quality.

Best breakfast in athlone is loaves and fishes, but I think they not doing breakfast takeaway. Look for menu's on Facebook.

I’ll second loaves and fishes.

Best takeaway sandwich in town

munsterman2008 · 26-03-2021 2:44pm

FintanMcluskey wrote: »

I’ll second loaves and fishes.

Best takeaway sandwich in town

I got breakfast there twice and it was the best breakfasts I've ever had. It is such a simple pleasure to get a full irish and more rare now during restrictions.

It's a shame loaves and fishes don't provide some take away services, it is evident that they are well regarded in the town. Someone should prompt them!

rn · 26-03-2021 3:38pm

Loaves and fishes are doing take away Mon - Friday 10:00-14:30 I believe. It's just they are not doing breakfast.

Their take away food is excellent.

martin1 · 29-03-2021 12:40pm

Coffee shops, coffee shops every where,
Opening here and opening there
All I ask, and not in jest
which one has the coffee best ?

Me thinks Nave in the Square has the nicest Americano

L.Jenkins · 29-03-2021 1:21pm

For me, it has to be from the N6 or Centra in Baylough. I usually grab the large 16 oz cup and fill it with 12 oz of coffee. The rest is milk and I used to take sugar, so it would have been 2 packs of sugar.

Best coffee ever. I'm not the biggest fan of coffee anywhere else, because they overfill the cups, then give you feck all milk to go with it.

Sue de Nimes · 29-03-2021 1:54pm

martin1 wrote: »

Coffee shops, coffee shops every where,
Opening here and opening there
All I ask, and not in jest
which one has the coffee best ?

It certainly won't be Starbucks!

Mearings · 29-03-2021 2:39pm

I doubt if anyone has sampled every coffee shop in the town, I certainly have not. Bastion Kitchen & Caffé Nero are very good for an Americano which is my coffee of choice.

rn · 29-03-2021 8:38pm

I know feic all about coffee, but my wife likes a Costa every now and again. Hers is a cappuccino.

I know corner house bistro, loaves and fishes and kellys monksland do nice ones too.

munsterman2008 · 29-03-2021 10:51pm

I have a block shed around the back of the house - I'd like to get some quotes (when restrictions permit same, of course) in converting same into a home office. It will need a roof (tin only at present) and other work of course. Anyone has recommendations for contractors on such a project?

Thank you.

rn · 30-03-2021 10:00pm

I recommend Liam Murray Construction http://www.liammurrayconstruction.ie/

Prominent_Dawg · 31-03-2021 5:06pm

martin1 wrote: »

Coffee shops, coffee shops every where,
Opening here and opening there
All I ask, and not in jest
which one has the coffee best ?

Me thinks Nave in the Square has the nicest Americano

I'd say Gloria Jeans in the town centre for an Americano, very expensive though!

munsterman2008 · 02-04-2021 7:30pm

Looking for another local recommendation please - a house alarm - just something simple, covering a mid terrace house so panel, a few sensors, the external box.

No ongoing payments i.e. contacts you when it goes off via app, or ongoing monitoring.

Thanks in advance.

Edit: if you are recommending from experience it would be helpful if you could disclose ball park what you paid for your system from your recommended provider?

eltonyio · 04-04-2021 10:28am

Cant help with price, but Xtra Security are good, have used them for a few other jobs on security gates. Another option you might consider is to buy something like a Yale home starter alarm kit and self-install. They are wifi based so no cabling work needed. You can also monitor it using an app and there's no fee/ sub for that. It depends on your needs if that would suit or not.

roosterman71 · 04-04-2021 8:22pm

eltonyio wrote: »

there's no fee/ sub for that.

Not yet there's not. There are ongoing problems with companies developing and selling products like this. Once people are in on their eco system, then they can charge. Like it would be easy to prevent giving you access to devices you bought with paying a sub. Your snookered then. I recall a while ago reading about a house heating thermostat where it could be used via a phone app. Next thing, they charged a sub and if you didn't pay the temp was set to 18 degrees and you couldn't change it!

Moonteach8 · 04-04-2021 8:40pm

Any recommendations or ideas for some outdoor dates in Athlone? Walks, outdoor seating areas, coffee places?

rn · 04-04-2021 9:14pm

Moonteach8 wrote: »

Any recommendations or ideas for some outdoor dates in Athlone? Walks, outdoor seating areas, coffee places?

I'd recommend burgess Park in athlone itself. Outside, the millennium Wood at portlick is very nice and the park beside the heritage park in moate are nice. In Roscommon moate Park or roscommon Town Park are lovely too.

Athlone thread

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