Greens set to hold convention in Athlone this weekend

Athlone hosts a major political gathering for a second weekend in a row as the Greens roll into town for their annual convention.

Hot on the heels of FG Ard Fheis last weekend in the TUS Athlone campus, Green Party members will congregate in the Radisson Hotel, Athlone for the event from Friday, November 25 to Sunday, November 27 next.

It is the party's first in-person convention since 2019.

Several Ministers will join Green Party leader Eamon Ryan and representatives from all over the country for the high-profile convention which is expected to draw hundreds of delegates to the town and television coverage by RTE.

On Friday, November 25, Longford Westmeath Greens will be hosting a special public event as part of the convention, a talk entitled 'Building Sustainable Communities in Our Towns' hosted by Athlone councillor, Louise Heavin. It will focus on how housing supply can be increased in a way that adds to our historic towns across the midlands.

Speaking about the event, Cllr Heavin, who is also a local architect said: “The number one issue locally is housing. Two large housing projects in Athlone have been stalled in recent months. The housing crisis is chronic in the town as it is across Ireland. We will be delivering more housing but how can this be done in the best possible way that provides not just properties alone but community infrastructure, green space, suitable transport systems and a range of housing types and tenures”.

There will be four panellists discussing the topic on the night. Bernardine Caroll from the Irish Architecture Foundation. She is the Engagement curator with the Reimagine Project; a nationwide placemaking programme, working with communities across Ireland to co-create and co-design solutions to problems or opportunities they’ve identified in their locality. Longford-based Conservation Architect, Jane Meade studied Architecture in UCD, qualifying in 1999. She is a member of the RIAI and an accredited Grade III conservation Architect. She also holds a post-graduate Diploma from Trinity in Construction Law and a Law Degree from UCC. Having worked as an architect in Auckland, NZ and with the City Architects in Cork City, Jane relocated to Longford and established Jane Meade Architects in 2002.

Steven Matthews a Green Party TC from Bray, Co. Wicklow. Steven has worked for years on protecting our natural environment, on climate action, inappropriate development and improving public spaces and public transport in Wicklow. He is the current Green Party spokesperson for Planning and Local Government and the Chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government & Heritage (including Planning, Biodiversity & Water).

The final speaker is Minister Malcolm Noonan, TD for Carlow Kilkenny and is the Minister of State with responsibility for Heritage and Electoral Reform. Last year he launched the Government's Town Centre First Scheme in Moate. He has also seen the increase in grant support for heritage buildings and our National Parks and Wildlife Service.

“This is a timely event. Athlone is once again set to grow considerably over the coming years. It's important that growth is well planned and adds to our town centre. I'm very excited about the panel we have put together and I hope some interesting ideas and discussions will come out of it on the night,” Cllr. Heavin concluded.

Anyone interested in attending can register to attend at www.eventbrite.com/e/building-communities-for-our-towns-tickets-472205478297 at or email: longfordwestmeath@greenparty.ie