Shaw takes over as new Athlone Chamber president

Protecting the local business community and using networking and connections during difficult Covid-19 times is what is planned by the new incoming President of Athlone Chamber of Commerce, Alan Shaw. Mr Shaw received the chain of the chamber from his predecessor, John McGrath at a reception recently at the Radisson Blu Hotel.

TOP: John and Doreen McGrath and Alan Shaw.

“It’s great to have two sides of the Shannon here,” said Mr McGrath at the reception, referring to Athlone’s Mayor Aengus O’Rourke and Cllr. John Dolan and Roscommon County Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Laurence Fallon

Mr McGrath, who served more than nine years as Chamber President thanked many people associated with his tenure, including the current boards of Athlone Chamber of Commerce, including Chamber CEO, Gerry McInerney and Edel Conway.

He thanked the Athlone businesspeople who in 2015 supported the Chamber with “significant financial contributions,”. He also mentioned those who contributed to the Christmas Lights Project.

Mr. McGrath paid great tribute to Athlone figures including Noel Heavey, Aidan O’Carroll and George Eaton.

“Recently deceased Noel Heavey and his great pal, Aidan O’Carroll were key to the arrival of Ericsson into Athlone, and also were involved with the arrival of the Dept of Education, although obviously there would have been some politics as well, and the late George Eaton was a great ambassador for Athlone down through the years,” he said.

Mr McGrath especially thanked his wife Doreen and family for their support.

Mr McGrath formally handed the Chain of Office, at a distance, to incoming President, Mr Shaw.

Mr Shaw said that he was the 36th President of the Chamber and commented on the “excellent contribution of John McGrath over the past nine years,”.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent at the event, Mr Shaw said that now is a very difficult time for business, and it’s the uncertainty of the future which is of the most concern.

“We have to make sure that we fight our corner and protect our members and I will be in the corner, every other day of the week,” he said. “In the last 12 months in Athlone some new businesses were opening, up and sadly some are closing now, but that is the nature of business life, there are slumps and changes, and I am an optimist by nature, and we have to look at the here and now and see what we can do to protect our community.”

“I see great opportunities for the chamber in the next few years, and John McGrath will be staying on as a board member which will be a huge support to me as regards the handover and transition,” said the Chamber President.