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Circulating
in Counties Westmeath, Roscommon, Galway, Longford, Offaly. Contact us jasonathloneobserver@eircom.net Click here for your new ATHLONE ADVERTISER
"Hanging with" TV presenter Hector O hEochagain in Ballinasloe's 'An Tain' bar.
DEAN CROWE ROW LOOKS SET TO ESCALATE The row over the decision by the Board of Directors of the Dean Crowe Theatre not to renew a FAS Employment Scheme for the coming year looked set to escalate. A member of the Action Committee told the Observer the meeting would most likely decide whether protests outside upcoming high profile events at the Dean Crowe should go ahead. Athlone Musical Society's production of "Chess" and the All Ireland Drama Festival could both be affected. A statement issued on behalf of the Board expressed grave concern that two such major local events could be affected.
NAUGHTEN CLAIMS BALLINASLOE DECENTRALISATION IS BEING BLOCKED Roscommon Fine Gael Deputy Denis Naughten this week accused the Government of blocking the planned decentralisation of the Railway Safety Commission to Ballinasloe. Calling on the Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen, to clarify the situation, Deputy Naughten said there was no excuse for delaying the decentralisation of the Railway Safety Commission because it was a new agency and its location in Ballinasloe had been announced prior to the setting up of the body.
LOCAL TOWNS SPOILED FOR POLITICAL CHOICE It was confirmed yesterday that Portiuncula Hospital Consultant Dr John Barton would be added to the Fine Gael ticket to contest the next Dail elections in East Galway. Dr Barton has been added by Fine Gael National HQ to the ticket, which already contains sitting Deputy Paul Connaughton and Senator Ulick Burke. While the next general election may be over a year away, voters in Athlone and Ballinasloe already look like being spoiled for choice in terms of locally based candidates. Fine Gael Cllr Nicky McFadden won the right to contest the election for her party in Longford Westmeath. She will be competing for votes directly with Senator Mary O' Rourke, who won a high profile selection convention for Fianna Fail. Both will also face competition from youthful Athlone Cllr Paul Hogan, who has been selected as the Sinn Fein candidate. Sinn Fein Cllr Jason Devlin received his party's nomination to contest the election in East Galway. The 35 year old father of two, an employee of Portiuncula Hospital, topped the poll in the last elections to Ballinasloe Town Council. He and Dr Barton will be contesting the election as Ballinasloe based candidates.
LENNON CALLS FOR ACTION ON ILLEGAL DUMPING Cllr Ray Lennon called on Athlone Town Council for action to deter what he said was the huge amount of illegal dumping going on around the town. He said he didn't accept assurances that the fines system was working. "I think illegal dumping will increase, that it will become a scourge like drugs," he said. The Director of Services, Mr Barry Kehoe, said he didn't accept any suggestion that the town was dirty.
BUCCS CRASH OUT OF CUP Athlone based rugby club Buccaneers lost their chance of winning a major national trophy this season when they crashed out of the AIB National Cup 20-13 to Cork Constitution. The Cork team, something of a bogey side for BUccs over the years, used first half wind advantage to build up a useful 17-0 half time. DEspite heroic endeavours through the second half, BUccaneers could not overcome the deficit.
WAITING PERIOD FOR WESTMEATH DRIVING TESTS UNACCEPTABLE - MACRA A leading member of Macra na Feirme in Westmeath has called on the Government to address the problem of excessive waiting periods for driving tests. Mr Lennon, a member of Macra's National Council from Kilbeggan, said the current waiting period for a driving test stood at 26 weeks in Athlone and 45 weeks in Mullingar. He said professional drivers were being seriously disadvantaged as a result of this unacceptable situation.
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