Athlone Christmas Market gets underway

Athlone Christmas Market returns this year with a bigger and better offering than ever, according to local Fianna Fáil Cllr Frankie Keena, who is chair of the organising committee.

The market gets underway in Athlone's John Count McCormack Civic Square tomorrow, (Thursday) December 12, and runs right through until Sunday, December 15. Opening times are from 10am to 7pm tomorrow and Friday, and 10am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday.

With everyone being strongly encouraged to shop local this Christmas in an effort to support businesses and craftspeople operating in their community, there will be a host of stalls at the Athlone Christmas Market showcasing the best of produce, crafts and services from suppliers in Athlone and the surrounding area.

Earlier this year, the Athlone Christmas Market group was given an allocation of €5,000 towards this year's market under the festival & events grants funding stream administered by Athlone and Moate Municipal District.

Cllr Keena has paid tribute to Westmeath County Council, Athlone and Castlerea Credit Union and his fellow committee members for their support and assistance with this year's Christmas markets.

Along with the best of local food and crafts, this year's market will also have lots of festive musical entertainment, with the services users from the Brothers of Charity providing the festive musical cheer tomorrow, while children from local primary schools, Tubberclair, Ardnagrath, Clonbonny and the Gaelscoil will be in the Civic Square on Friday to entertain market goers. On Saturday a host of buskers will be in attendance while Castle Ceili trad group and Wingman will provide the music on Sunday.

Cllr Keena is encouraging families to “get out and about” in Athlone over the next four days to supoprt their local Christmas Market and says he will “continue to advocate” for the establishment of a permanent covered market in Athlone.