Westmeath Independent

There has been a reprieve for Lough Ree this week as Dublin City Council unveiled its plans to abstract water from Lough Derg to supply the greater Dublin region...

Athlone is preparing to give a warm welcome to visitors from 14 European countries who are arriving in town ahead of the Euro-Festival 2010 which gets underway on Saturday, July 24. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/news/roundup/articles/2010/07/21/3998783-eurofestival-ready-for-the-off-/

Local Gardai are investigating allegations of an assault in Athlone on a youth who was in the care of the HSE. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/news/roundup/articles/2010/07/14/3998621-youth-sex-assault-claim-probed/

The relatives of a priest who was found dead in a pool of blood in a house in Clara 25 years ago have again renewed their appeal for the case to be re-opened...

The Garda Superintendent leading the Martin O'Gorman murder investigation in Meath has confirmed that a second post mortem on the Athlone man's remains will be carried out later this week at the behest of legal representatives, representing some of those questioned in relation to the death...

The fifth annual triAthlone delivered on its promise to be the biggest and best yet, as thousands of visitors flocked to the town to participate or catch a glimpse of the European Triathlon Championships last weekend...

Fianna Fáil TD Mary O'Rourke has said she expects her party to be voted out of power at the next general election. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/news/roundup/articles/2010/07/07/3998462-orourke-expects-a-fianna-fil-defeat-at-next-general-election/

Athlone Town's bus service was the heaviest loss-maker in the country and was over-resourced in the boom years, resulting in Bus Éireann making severe cuts to the service last year....

Navan Live 2010 organisers (Profile Music Group) have reported a massive surge in tickets sales during mid summer / festival season for their gigs on 17th & 18th September, The Saw Doctors, Sharon Shannon, Shane MacGowan & Damien Dempsey...

Home-owners in Monksland now have the opportunity to rent out their properties to Roscommon County Council for between ten and 20 years. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/news/roundup/articles/2010/06/30/3998341-roscommon-to-tackle-housing-list-by-renting-privately/

Gardai in Navan investigating the murder of Athlone native Martin O'Gorman say they are "very hopeful" that their inquiries will yield results. http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/news/roundup/articles/2010/06/30/3998340-murder-hunt-after-athlone-man-dies-in-navan/

The Chinese developers behind Creggan's proposed Chinatown plan for the Euro Chinese Trading Hub "to become the greatest commercial and trade centre, tour centre, cultural centre, amusement centre and international conference centre in Europe", according to the design statement for the project...

Two players will make their first championship starts - Caulry's Kevin Maguire and Ger Egan of Tyrrellspass - on the Westmeath team for Sunday's Leinster SFC semi-final against Louth at Croke Park (5.50pm)...

THE Athlone & District Schoolboy League slumped to a second straight defeat at this year's Kennedy Cup tournament in Limerick, when falling to a 3-0 defeat to a strong North Dublin side on Tuesday afternoon...