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Protect
Fr. Mathew Hall Campaign
Athlone Town Council invited submissions
from the public in respect of their proposals to establish an
art gallery in the Fr. Mathew Hall, Athlone. The Town Council
propose either of two options.
The Council intend to use the building as an art gallery. In
the proposed development it is their intention to either demolish
the hall or alternatively constructing an extension to the existing
structure.
Both proposals involved the construction of a building design
which would not compliment the surrounding area and would also
entail the removal of a lot of trees from the promenade thereby
obscuring the view of the bridge for a considerable distance.
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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). The hall is situated beside the main tourist attractions in
the town, i.e; the River Shannon, the town bridge and the Renaissance
style church of Ss Peter & Paul.
Minister John Gormley TD, recently 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 and will be voting on its fate in the near
future (we expect at next Monday's monthly meeting).
Athlone
Aadvertiser story dated: 19/10/2007
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