Circulating in Counties Westmeath, Roscommon, Galway, Longford, Offaly.
Updated May 12th 2005

Contact us  jasonathloneobserver@eircom.net

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Michael Conaghan, was a recent visitor to Athlone, where he was pictured with local Fianna Fail Cllrs Kieran Molloy and John Butler.

BEST OF LUCK TO DONNA AND JOE

The people of Athlone will be glued to their TVs on Thursday, May 19th, as local hopefuls Joe and Donna McCaul battle it out for a place in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest the following Saturday. Joe and Donna, the popular winners of RTE's 'You're A Star' talent search, must go through a pre-qualifying stage because Ireland's last entry in the contest performed so badly. The song they will perform, "Love?," is a catchy eurpop number which has inspired high hopes among the duo's supporters. Nerves aong their many friends and supporters in Athlone are likely to reach fever pitch on the Thursday night, as the results of the semi final are announced.

DRAMA FESTIVAL AT ATHLONE'S DEAN CROWE

Twin brothers Tommy and John McArdle, who currently appear in a prominent TV ad for an Irish bank, performed the official opening of this year's All Ireland Drama Festival in the Athlone's Dean Crowe Theatre.

Thirty five years ago, the duo jointly accepted the Best Actor award at the Festival for their roles as 'Gar Public' and Gar Private' in Ballintra Players' version of 'Philadelphia, Here I Come,' by Brian Friel.

Thousands of visitors were expected in Athlone for the duration of the event, which ran from Friday, 6th May until Saturday, 14th May. This is the 53rd year of the Festival.

LIBERIA BOUND TROOPS REVIEWED IN ATHLONE

The Minister for Defence, Willie O' Dea, and the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lt. Gen. James Sreenan, reviewed troops from the 93rd Infantry Battalion, who are bound for service with the United Nations in Liberia, at a ceremony in Custume Barracks, Athlone.

The 430 strong contingent of troops is drawn from the Western Brigade. This is the Western Brigade's second deployment in Liberia since 2003.

DEVELOPMENT ON PERIPHERAL AREAS DAMAGING ATHLONE PLANNING - BUTLER

Commercial developments taking place on the Roscommon periphery of Athlone could have an adverse effect on overall town planning, according to Cllr John Butler.

He said this was because these areas were not subject to the same guidelines as areas under the control of Westmeath County and Athlone Town Councils.

Cllr Mark Cooney went further, repeating his earlier suggestion that Athlone's local authority boundary should be extended into South Roscommon.

TYSABRI LOSSES IMPACT ON ELAN'S FINANCIAL RESULTS

First quarter financial results published recently showed that Elan made a net loss of $115.6 Million, an increase of 86% over the $62.2 Million reported in the same quarter of 2004. The figures largely reflected losses connected with the decision to withdraw flagship MS drug Tysabri from market earlier in the year, after a number of patients developed a frequently fatal brain disease.

However, the company stressed that its overall financial position was still stable, and that it was working hard to "develop an appropriate plan for Tysabri."

PORTIUNCULA HOSPITAL LOSING BEDS - CLAIM

Roscommon Fine Gael TD Denis Naughten claimed this week that the Government had presided over a reduction in the number of beds in Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, since it was returned to office in 2002.

Deputy Naughten said that in 2002, Portiuncula had 141 public beds, 62 private / semi-private beds and nine non-designated beds. However, he said, by 2004 the number of public beds had been reduced by six to 135.  

BLOW FOR BUCCANEERS AS BALLINASLOE OPT TO END MARRIAGE

All Ireland Rugby League side Buccaneers suffered a further blow when Ballinasloe Rugby Club opted to end the partnership with Athlone RFC, which founded Buccaneers in the early 90's.

Members of the Ballinasloe club voted to withdraw from the amalgamation with immediate effect at an EGM last week.

Tensions in the relationship were thought to have increased in recent years, but while those outside the sport were taken aback by the news, sources in the Athlone club claimed the decision had come as no surprise.