Record visitor numbers at Athlone Castle this year

By David Flynn

Athlone Castle is set to register record numbers of visitors this year, it has emerged.

At the Christmas meeting of Athlone-Moate Municipal district, Carmel Duffy, manager of Athlone Arts and Tourism told the councillors that visitor numbers to Athlone Castle will reach around 37,000 by the end of the year, which is the largest number since its major opening in 2012.

The meeting heard that visitor numbers to the Castle for 2024 were broken down as one-third Irish visitors, and another third were from the US, while the final third were broken down to other states.

“Athlone Castle is performing better than most visitor attractions of a similar size and capacity located outside cities – many are still trying to recover pre-Covid,” said the Athlone arts manager.

Carmel Duffy said at the end of 2019, the figure was 31,000 and while obviously it dropped through the Covid years, it rose again steadily after opening up, e.g., 29,000 + in 2022 and almost 35,000 in 2023, and it’s expected it will lead to circa 37,000 visitors by the end of this year.

She said it’s the highest visitor number ever recorded at the castle, going back as far as when the original visitor centre opened in 1991.

“It’s a lot to do with the extensive programmes on offer in the castle,” she said. “It’s a reflection of the importance of Athlone’s popularity as a visitor destination and the castle is seen as a valuable attraction in the town.”

However she pointed out that there has been a drop in UK visitors, and similar with the Northern Ireland market, which she described as “pretty dismal”.

Carmel Duffy told the councillors they are trying to focus many activities there to aim for repeat visitations.

The Arts and Tourism manager also said that the Luan Gallery has had a good year.

“Visitor numbers are very strong, and we’re hoping by the end of the year, that our numbers will be as good as our pre-Covid numbers,” she said.

In 2019, the total number of visitors was 15,000 plus and to date this year, the number is over 14,000. The gallery visitors this year were made up of 36% Athlonians, while another 44% were from other parts of Ireland. The US visitors made up 9% of Luan Gallery numbers.

“We have five exhibition programming slots every years, and they last approximately two months,” said Carmel Duffy.

Currently there is an exhibition featuring the work of 32 Westmeath artists. Admission to the gallery is free of charge.

She said that the Abbey Road Artists studios has come back very good from Covid times, albeit slowly. They have four studios on the ground floor, and three currently occupied.

While the manager acknowledged the operational funding received from Westmeath County Council, she said the company tries to source additional funding, particularly to support projects.

In 2024, the Arts and Tourism group received €6,500 from Creative Ireland for projects and events and €12,500 from the Heritage Council and Irish Walled Town Network for the programme of events for the 2024 heritage week. They also received €21,000 from Westmeath Arts Office.

The Luan Gallery Digitisation Project received €25,000 from Just Transition which is also funding €3.2 million for an Athlone Castle project on interpretation, facilities and visitor journey enhancement. The Luan Gallery also received €65,000 from the Arts Council for the programming of four exhibitions.