Athlone thread

dePeatrick · 11-10-2022 03:52PM

Anyone know when the pedestrian bridge is due to open? Interesting project and am keen to walk across it to see what it feels like.

AckwelFoley · 11-10-2022 05:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119730772#Comment_119730772

Around April 2023.

veryangryman · 11-10-2022 06:12PM

Are Ganlys still doing briquettes

rn · 11-10-2022 07:52PM

I know they're doing the wood ones, which are excellent in a stove. Not sure re peat briquettes. Homeland did have stock of peat briquettes a month back a s they were cheapest in athlone at that time at 6.50 a bale.

roosterman71 · 11-10-2022 09:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119731302#Comment_119731302

I'll sell ya a load of turf, but don't tell Eamon Ryan I said that

dePeatrick · 13-10-2022 07:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119731011#Comment_119731011

Oh that long, ok I really don’t know how long these things take but I do look forward to it opening, the second bridge I will have witnessed opening in my lifetime, do you happen to know what year the railway bridge was opened and the original Athlone bridge, used to be wooden I know but when was the first one? If you know, no problem if you don’t…😊

AckwelFoley · 13-10-2022 07:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119740651#Comment_119740651

1850 for the railway bridge and late 1600s the wooden bridge was build. Replaced in the1840s with the current one.

The motorway bridge was 1990 I think.. I too am old enough to remember when it wasn't there. The motorway goes through a portion of our field west of the bridge

Remember it as a child playing ip and down the road In the evenings

veryangryman · 14-10-2022 09:42AM

Does anyone know if the high streets in Athlone were originally built as a response to the risk of the Shannon flooding or simply a natural feature of the land around the banks of the river?

roosterman71 · 14-10-2022 10:16AM

I'd imagine they used natural features to position the town and allieviate the flooding risk while also being a relatively high poiint in an otherwise flat, lowlying area. Back in the day the settlers and town builders wouldn't be too bothered with horsing in loads of earth from other areas to raise a spot to derisk flooding. They'd use what was there.

Or they were way ahead of their time and did exactly what I think they wouldn't. Ya wouldn't know. In many ways our ancesters were well ahead of us in terms of survivability and general cop on.

flazio · 14-10-2022 10:23AM

I remember back in 2010 ish commenting that the architects for Golden Island knew what they were doing. Shannon burst its banks badly and the Diskin Centre had been hit badly, but there was high banking put in around the back of GI and they carried on as normal.

14-10-2022 04:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742741#Comment_119742741

They used to respect flood plains and avoid building on them as well.

Rikand · 14-10-2022 06:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742602#Comment_119742602

Natural feature of the land, the main streets either side of the river are built on an esker.

And to back that up, I found this article. Good to know my geography teacher wasn't lying to me all those years ago lol

https://www.westmeathindependent.ie/2022/01/27/streetwise-athlone-town/

Sunny Dayz · 17-10-2022 10:18AM

I've actually been listening to that streetwise podcast a bit recently, it's quite interesting. Love the bit where they speak to locals from the area of their memories growing up there.

niallpak13 · 17-10-2022 02:17PM

Can anyone recommend anyone that inspects and repairs roofs? I found 2 leaks through the ceiling last night that appear to originate in the attic but not plumbing related

17-10-2022 04:51PM

Athlone has a new bike infrastructure project lined up as part of the Pathfinder Project list

https://www.westmeathindependent.ie/2022/10/17/new-athlone-cycle-corridor-to-link-baylough-with-tus-and-n6/

No details on the route or format this might take yet but I'll be happy if they manage to not classify paint as infrastructure

veryangryman · 17-10-2022 10:08PM

Along the old dublin galway road and linking to the cycle bridge...

This for me means cycle lane from tesco to Bridge, then cross onto greenway.

Which isn't bad if your going Monksland to college. Rest of route is either segregated already or laned for cyclists.

I'd of course prefer a more comprehensive route. Cycling in town centre is touch and go at best of times

17-10-2022 10:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119758259#Comment_119758259

I've honestly barely cycled here since moving here. The bus is too handy and lately I've even taken to just walking everywhere.

Best thing I ever did was ditch the car

veryangryman · 17-10-2022 11:48PM

Ah cars handy when ye want to leave this old town and go anywhere not on the D G axis

But yeah local travel will hopefully become far more cycle friendly soon

17-10-2022 11:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119758735#Comment_119758735

True, I make use of GoCar the odd time

Ceirseach · 18-10-2022 08:43AM

Anyone else heard rumour the franciscans are leaving Athlone. No vocations and overheads too high.

Sad day for the town when that happens imo.

yabadabado · 18-10-2022 11:39AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119759183#Comment_119759183

Yeah they are leaving.

Heard it mentioned earlier,they are going sometime in January.

flazio · 18-10-2022 09:25PM

Westmeath indo report on the matter.

https://www.westmeathindependent.ie/2022/10/18/franciscans-to-withdraw-from-athlone/

Freddiestar · 20-10-2022 10:15PM

Is the Prince closing for regular business to house refugees?

I overheard this and then checked on their website for a few dates this year and non of the nights were available

veryangryman · 20-10-2022 10:24PM

It's where the money is. Nursing homes will do it too

yabadabado · 20-10-2022 10:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119772884#Comment_119772884

Supposed to be.

Handy guaranteed money.

batman75 · 02-11-2022 09:53PM

A couple of random observations.

Sad to see the Prince being closed to the public for any reason.
Sad to see that the Friary is closing. A beautiful church.
The street lighting down by Aldi is a disgrace.
I see Midland Sign building on Pearse St is for sale. Are they moving or are they simply tenants?

Ceirseach · 09-11-2022 08:13AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119826025#Comment_119826025

AFAIK midland print are tenants. Owners are supposedly consortium of former restaurant owner and local solicitors. Also own former bank on pearse Street. That could be old news though.

flazio · 09-11-2022 08:19AM

Was in Town Centre yesterday. Kind of surprised to see Born had closed up. If you are ever around Galway city, they seem to pop into every vacant shop unit available, most recently the Eyre Square Centre Carphone Warehouse.

scarepanda · 09-11-2022 01:39PM

Born have moved down to golden island in the old wallis(?) Unit.

Gael23 · 17-11-2022 11:08PM

Any recommendations for Restaurants in Athlone that are not madly expensive?

Athlone thread

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