Site visit to Athlone Marina to help councillors plan for future

Members of Athlone Moate Municipal District are to undertake a site visit to Athlone Marina in the coming months to ascertain what future development is needed at the popular leisure facility.

The suggestion to visit the marina was made by Director of Services Ambrose Clarke, at the November meeting of the municipal district, on foot of a motion submitted by Fine Gael councillor John Dolan.

Cllr Dolan's motion called for a discussion on the future “development and use” of Athlone Marina and how it could be enhanced and promoted in the future.

“We have been lucky and unlucky to have the river Shannon in Athlone,” remarked Cllr Dolan, who called for “a scoping exercise” to be carried out to see what expansion work could be carried out at the marina.

Cllr Frankie Keena described Athlone Marina as “a fantastic facility” and said a discussion on its future development was “very important” while Cllr Paul Hogan said the motion was “a very timely one” and added that it had “a significant length of time” since the municipal district had discussed the facilities in the area.

“Maybe we should have it on the agenda at some stage in the future and discuss Athlone Marina in a lot more detail,” said Cllr Hogan.

The Director of Services told the meeting that there are two permanent berths at the marina and 60 other berths available, and he said the marina is “a great asset” to the town of Athlone. He suggested that the councillors go on a site visit to the marina to ascertain what future development is needed.

District Manager Willie Rya, said he had personal experience of berthing a boat at Athlone Marina and said it was “very safe and secure” and the facilities there were “fantastic.”

Cllr John Dolan said a site visit by elected members was “a great idea” and the meeting agreed that the visit will be arranged in the coming months.