04.09.2010
Historical
walking tour of Custume Barracks, Athlone
Members of the Athlone Architectural Heritage Group joined
the Westmeath Association of An Taisce on their organised
walking tour of historic Custume Barracks.
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30.08.2010
Outing
to Clonmacnoise and Clonfert
As part of our activities to celebrate National Heritage
Week, members and guests of the Athlone Architectural Heritage
Group visited the world famous historic monastic sites of
Clonmacnoise and Clonfert.
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01.07.2010
Athlone
is hosting European Triathlon Championships 2010
Athlone Architectural Heritage Group wish Waterways Ireland
and the organisers of the European Triathlon Championships
a very successful event. The event is taking place in the
historic town of Athlone from Thursday 1st - Sunday 4th
July 2010.
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27.06.2010
Save
Loughloe House campaign
Athlone Architectural Heritage Group is wholeheartedly backing
the campaign to save Loughloe House, the Health Service
Executive's nursing home in Athlone.
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02.04.2010
Important
art associated with Athlone
We are delighted to announce that the National Gallery of
Ireland have given us permission to exhibit copies of two
very important pieces from the 'Taking Stock Acquisitions
2000-2010' which is currently on show in Dublin. The framed
copies will form a central part of our future 'Old Athlone'
exhibitions.
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18.03.2010
Workhouse
float in 2010 St. Patrick's Day Parade
As part of our heritage awareness programme, Athlone Architectural
Heritage Group entered a float in the Athlone St. Patrick's
Day Parade, commemorating the hardship endured by the unfortunate
citizens who had to reside in the town's workhouse during
the Great Famine.
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Please
save the trees
As part of Athlone Town Council's plans for Fr. Mathew
Hall, these beautiful trees are to be uprooted in the
very near future to make way for a contemporary art gallery.
If you feel that it is unfair to sacrifice the trees and
portion of the promenade for this controversial project,
please let us know at athloneheritage@gmail.com.
It is our opinion that Fr. Mathew Hall should house the
Tourist Information Office, a coffee shop and a dedicated
John Count McCormack museum. Memorabilia presently located
in the Castle could be located here and expanded.
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Old
Athlone on display
To promote an awarness of our town's heritage, Athlone
Architectural Heritage Group held an 'Old Athlone
Exhibition'
in the Aidan Heavey Public Library for one week
from 22nd to 28th January.
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19.09.2009 Press Release
Athlone
Town Council spending €3.2 million on contemporary art
gallery at Fr. Mathew Hall
It has come to our notice that Athlone Town Council are proceeding
with haste on the controversial contemporary art gallery development
at Fr. Mathew Hall, Athlone. Over the last week, workmen have
been tearing down ceilings. We are advised that these works
will continue.
We feel strongly that the proposed development will destroy
the character of the Victorian architecture. We want the building
to house a meeting room for local committees, the Tourist
Information Office and a museum dedicated to Count John McCormack.
The present location of the Tourist Office is inaccessible
for people with disabilities. If the proposed art gallery
extension is allowed to be built it will block a considerable
view of the river and the bridge from Grace Road. Trees will
also be uprooted to accommodate the extension.
This important landmark location should be treated with the
respect it deserves. |
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If you support
this campaign or if there is anything you can do to help us to
stop this development, please email us at athloneheritage@gmail.com
2009
National Heritage Week
To promote an awarness of our town's heritage during National Heritage
Week, Athlone Architectural Heritage Group are proud to present
an 'Old Athlone Exhibition'
in St. Mary's Hall on Saturday 22nd August '09 from 11.ooam to 4.00pm.
The official opening will be performed by local historian Mr. Jimmy
O'Connor. Come and enjoy the newly reformed Athlone Pipe Band who
will be performing at the official opening.
See
Poster
05.05.2009
PRESS
RELEASE
Cherish
our heritage
In common
with other submissions we welcome the proposal to provide an art
gallery in Athlone. It presents a unique opportunity to provide
a fitting state-of-the-art facility which would not be compromised
by scale restriction as would be the case with the Fr Mathew Hall
location. As usual, the council are adopting a small-minded approach.
Athlone is the second largest inland town in the country, can
they not wake up to the fact that this development deserves a
proper building of sufficient scale to reflect the importance
of our town which is reaching city status.
The Fr. Mathew
Hall is wholly unsuitable. The scale is inadequate - if the gallery
were to require extra space in the future it would necessitate
taking away more of the promenade, thus impeding further on the
view of the bridge, and, impeding the view of the Castle from
the river.
While we appreciate
the need for change and welcome all improvements to the town we
are appealing that our irreplaceable heritage, which is in danger
of being eroded, be preserved for posterity. Each generation is
responsible for passing on its cultural heritage to future generations.
Surely, seriously artistically minded people will appreciate this.
Athlone Town
Council plan to spend €3.2 million on a contemporary art
gallery!
The proposed
structural and design alterations to Fr. Mathew Hall would result
in conflicting architectural styles. This would reflect poorly
on Athlone Town Council's competence to provide a good aesthetic
appearance to a major historic (and archaeologically sensitive)
national landmark. If the council are allowed to progress this
project it will be too late. The Town will be stuck with this
for generations.
We would urge
all parties interested in developing an art gallery for Athlone
to consider the above and lobby to have this project relocated
to a site which can provide a building suitable in scale for our
emerging city. We are suggesting Court Devenish House as a possible
location. The grounds contain the largest visible extent of the
old Town Wall and the location in its entirety would provide a
beautiful public amenity. A modern wing at the rear of the building
could be reconstructed to provide suitable gallery space.
It is our
opinion that Fr. Mathew Hall should house the Tourist Information
Office, a coffee shop and a dedicated John Count McCormack museum.
Memorabilia presently located in the Castle could be located here
and expanded. McCormack had no connection with the Castle while
the Fr. Mathew Hall featured hugely in his early career. Rooms
could also be available for meetings of voluntary groups associated
with the Athlone community interests. Art exhibitions could be
accommodated.
We believe
that the Fr. Mathew Hall was given to Athlone Urban District Council
(now Athlone Town Council) in trust for the people. We are advised
that the deeds are missing and there is a lease existing from
the OPW. The Athlone Town Council have flatly refused to allow
us to view this lease!
Can we take
seriously the Council's supposed compliance with the Part 8 Planning
process? It was obvious since the beginning of our campaign that
the Council were intent on imposing the plans regardless of any
constructive criticism or submissions.
It would be
irresponsible and immoral for Athlone Town Council to spend €3.2
million developing an art gallery at Fr. Mathew Hall in the current
economic climate when there are many deserving issues requiring
urgent funding.
Our campaign
continues.
ENDS
08.01.2009 PRESS
RELEASE
Fr Mathew Hall Campaign
The issue of the proposed re-development (Art Gallery) at Fr Mathew
Hall, Athlone is a very emotive one with the townspeople. The Athlone
Town Council (ATC) greatly underestimate this depth of feeling and
disrespect the wishes of Athlone people who already submitted similar
sentiment to those listed below in the earlier public consultation.
We are appealing to the people to view the plans on display at
the Athlone Civic Centre and make submissions to the ATC at the
earliest opportunity. An artist's impression of the proposal can
be viewed on our website at www.athloneheritage.com.
We are in the process of organising a public meeting and are getting
in touch with our guest speakers, venue, etc. As soon as we have
this in place we will publicise it in the local media.After viewing
the detailed drawings, our members are unanimous in objecting to
the development.
The following is a brief summary of the points raised at our meeting,
Thursday 8th January '09:
1 We consider the proposed re-development of the existing structure
to be a mutilation of the existing design. The interference with
the structure to incorporate new openings spoils its character.
2 The proposed extension would obstruct the view of the bridge over
the River Shannon - Athlone's most important landmark.
3 The building is on the site of the medieval town defences, namely
the Connaught Tower. This is of significant archaeological importance.
We have this information confirmed from an authoritative source.
4 The development would necessitate the removal of a considerable
number of trees from the promenade.
The above points will be contained and expanded upon in our submission
to the ATC.
Our
Objective
We are requesting the careful restoration and refurbishment of the
building. We recommend future uses should be the housing of the
town tourist office and a Count John McCormack museum. John McCormack
gave performances here, as did Percy French.
Minister John Gormley TD, recommended that Fr. Mathew Hall should
be included on the Record of Protected Structures, considering it
to be of special interest from an architectural, historical, cultural
and social point of view. However, the Athlone Town Council has
the final say on the matter. We are very concerned that the proposed
development would be detrimental to the design and structural integrity.
Ends.
URGENT NEWS
Athlone Town Council's revised plan for Fr.
Mathew Hall revealed
Connecting Athlone's Past
Formed in September 2007, Athlone Architectural Heritage Group
is a voluntary group established to carefully monitor all building
developments in Athlone town and its environs which may effect
the aesthetic appearance, integrity and historical value. We are
committed to promoting awareness and understanding of Athlone's
heritage, and the importance of valuing its preservation.
PLEASE
NOTE
We will be continually adding content to our website. Hoping you
find it enjoyable and informative. Your comments are welcome at
athloneheritage@gmail.com.
Thank you for visiting.
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Athlone
Architectural Heritage Group would like to acknowledge the
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) for
their kind permission to use content from their website.
See: www.buildingsofireland.ie.
The NIAH is a section within the Department of the Environment,
Heritage and Local Government. The work of the NIAH involves
identifying and recording the architectural heritage of
Ireland, from 1700 to the present day."
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An
introduction to the
Architectural Heritage of
County Westmeath
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Available
in local bookshops. ISBN is 0755771761.
It can also be ordered online from www.wordwellbooks.com
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