Old Athlone Railway Station closed 40 years ago this month

Tuesday next, January 14, will mark the 40th anniverary of the closure of Athlone's old railway station.

The news was reported in that week's Westmeath Independent, under the headline, 'C.I.E. close a station in Athlone and open another'.

The old station, which is a listed building, had been constructed in 1851, on the western side of the River Shannon, on what was known as Grace Road or Accommodation Road.

It currently houses offices and administrative functions for Iarnrod Eireann.

The January 1985 Westmeath Independent article on its closure read: "Another chapter in the 134-year-old history of railway operations in Athlone will end on Monday next, when C.I.E. will officially close the M.G. & W.R. station on the Grace Road, which will simultaneously be replaced by the revamped G.S. & W.R. station on the Leinster side of the town.

"From Monday all train and bus services will be operated from this location.

"What of the future for the now abandoned station designed by the destinguished architect, John Skipton Mulvany, who was also responsible for other stations on the line as well as the company's hotel in Galway?

"C.I.E. Area Manager, Mr Colm McGiolla Ri has already stated that C.I.E. was considering the old station as the possible location for a ticket machine manufacturing industry being developed by the company.

"Should it not prove suitable for this purpose it might be used as a museum, a library or a youth hostel," the article added.