Search Results for 'Shannon'

The Athlone Tea Rooms, Belvedere House and Gardens, Mullingar, and cruising on the river Shannon are among the Westmeath attractions to be highlighted in a new advertising campaign launched by Tourism Ireland last week.

The scene of a bloody battle between Catholics and Protestants should become an international tourist attraction, according to Galway-based Minister Eamon O Cuiv.

The televised draw for next year’s provincial championship which took place last Thursday was relatively kind to both Westmeath and Roscommon. Westmeath take on the winners of Wicklow and Carlow in a Leinster quarter-final. Louth, Longford or Kildare will provide the semi-final opposition should the Lake County win their opening game.

I was surprised to learn recently that I shared a theatrical experience with the journalist and commentator Fintan O’Toole. Years ago Fintan went to the toilet during one of the many intervals in John Arden’s The Non-Stop Connolly Show (it was non-stop for an amazing 24-hours). The toilet was just behind the stage. When Fintan came out, the performance had restarted, and he was on stage. The audience applauded the embarrassed young Fintan.

One of the most colourful characters in the world of entertainment, Michael Flatley, is to visit the Royal Castlebar Theatre and Event Centre within the next couple of weeks. Unquestionably the most talented dancer of his generation, Michael is coming to Mayo to promote his Lord of the Dance show which starts at the Royal Castlebar on Saturday January 3. “I have heard great things about the venue in Castlebar and I know that I am going to be hugely impressed when I see the world-class new facility with my own eyes,” says Michael. “It’s a huge step forward for the people of Connacht as it means that elite shows and events such as ours can be brought to their doorstep. Prior to the opening of the new Royal Castlebar, it was just not an option for us to travel west of the Shannon.”

Mayo County Council senior engineer Joe Beirne gave a warning to the elected members of Mayo County Council that he couldn’t see any major roads projects starting in Mayo in the next six years. Beirne was informing the council of the roads programmes for 2009 at the council’s annual budget meeting.

Nearly 60 houses in Athlone town have been rendered uninhabitable by floodwaters as the Shannon rose by over two feet (64cm) in the last seven days and has now surpassed the previous highest ever water mark set in 1954 by more than 30cms (1ft).

Fancy something a little different for your lunchtime? Then drop into Athlone’s Olive Grove Restaurant and Bar this Saturday from 2-4pm, where the new ‘Jazz in the afternoons’ series will be taking place.

There was good news for travellers in the west this week with the annoucement that CityJet is expanding its services from Shannon Airport.