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Fore Abbey

The village of Fore is in a valley between two hills. Here you will see the ancient ruins of a Christian monastery. Fore is "the town of the springs" and was named after St. Fechin's spring, which is beside the old church. It was St. Fechin who founded the ancient Fore Abbey around 630 A.D. By 665 A.D. (the time of the yellow plague) there were 300 monks living in the community. Between 771 and 1169 A.D. Fore was burnt 12 times.

Another important aspect of Fore is the Fore Crosses, one of which, is in the village of Fore. There are 18 crosses; some crosses are plain (most likely to wind and rain erosion) whilst others still remain carved. These are spread out over 7 miles on roadways and in fields and bore witness to religious persecution during penal times.

Over looking Lough Lene is Slieveboy hill and "Gallagher's Moteens" which are Bronze Age graves. These are Cist graves, which succeeded the Communal burial chambers of the New Stone Age.

Guests to the Athlone Springs Hotel will enjoy visiting the anchient ruins of the Christian Monastery. Look no further for a hotel in Athlone when visiting Fore Abbey. Contact us today for great Special Offers.

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Bealtaine Festival 2012

May belongs to the Bealtaine festival, celebrating creativity as we age! Over 120,000 people now take part in Bealtaine. From dance to cinema, painting to theatre, Bealtaine showcases the talents and creativity of both first-time and professional older artists.

It is a chance for people to make new and challenging work, a chance to communicate traditions between the generations.

Bealtaine is an Age & Opportunity initiative part-funded by the Arts Council and delivered by hundreds of organisations around the country.

Care Centres

Storytelling; music; masquerade fancy dress afternoon tea dance; re-showing of DVD ‘Butterfly Moments’; movie evening; arts & crafts display.

Date: 2nd to 18th May

Venue: St Vincent's Care Centre, Athlone

Tel: Pauline Quast or Julie Molloy 090 647 5301

Active Retirement/ Community Groups

ATK Community Centre Ltd present Drama workshop with one-act drama;

Visit to art gallery.

Date: Friday 18th May

Venue: St Kieran's, Tormey Villas, Athlone.

Tel: Mona Joyce 090 645 0272

Arts / Culture / Heritage

Moate Community Development Association present: 'Julie & Julia'

Date: Thursday 24th May

Venue: Tuar Ard Arts Centre, Church St. Moate
Tel: Catherine Ganley on 090 648 2042

Goldsmith Int Literary Fest

Goldsmith International Literary Festival is the third oldest event of its type in Ireland. Happening annually over the June Bank Holiday Weekend it takes place in the South Longford-Westmeath area that is becoming increasingly known as Goldsmith Country
It was re-branded from The Goldsmith Summer School in 2006 and the event has recently undergone a transformation to become more cutting edge and to address some of the most topical and controversial issues facing 21st century Ireland. Building on its previous twenty-plus years, it has established itself as one of the foremost and most highly respected schools of its type in Ireland with all aspects of Goldsmith's life, writings, and society having been explored over the years.

Contact:

Anne Tully (Secretary) Address: Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford Tel: (043) 71448 Email: Secretary@goldsmithfestival.ie
Seamus McCormack (Chairman) Address: The Three Jolly Pigeons, Athlone, Co. Westmeath Mobile: (087) 6189506 Email: Chairman@goldsmithfestival.ie

Athlone Agri Show 2012

Venue: Gaffey's Farm, Moydrum, Athlone, Co. Westmeath

Date: 24/06/2012

Email: moydrumcastle@eircom.net

Phone: 087 6112938 (Oliver) /086 2540473 (Michael)

Website: http://www.athloneshow.ie/

A Day out for all the family with a great variety of activities and events, Athlone Agri Show will take place at the Showgrounds, Gaffeys Farm, Moydrum, Athlone.