Editing Athlone (section)

==Culture<span class="anchor" id="Events"></span>==
[[File:View From Town Centre Looking West.jpg|thumb|Looking west from the town centre]]
Theatres in Athlone include the [[Dean Crowe Theatre|Dean Crowe Theatre & Arts Centre]] and the [[Athlone Little Theatre|Little Theatre]].

[[RTÉ]] All-Ireland Drama Festival takes place annually in Athlone, bringing together nine amateur drama groups from across Ireland. The festival is supported by a number of "fringe" events that include [[street theatre]], [[art exhibition]]s, workshops and activities for young people.{{fact|date=October 2024}}

A cultural and history festival focused on the town's connection to the Shannon, the Athlone River Festival, was held in 2019 and again in early August 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.westmeathindependent.ie/2024/06/23/exciting-river-festival-to-showcase-viking-settlement-in-athlone/ | website = Westmeath Independent | title = Exciting river festival to showcase Viking settlement in Athlone | date = 23 June 2024 | accessdate = 25 February 2025 | quote = The [2024] committee would like to thank [..] former chairman [..] who organised the last River Festival in 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.westmeathindependent.ie/2024/08/01/athlone-river-festival-returns-for-bank-holiday-weekend/ | website = Westmeath Independent | title = Athlone River Festival returns for Bank Holiday weekend | date = 1 August 2024 | accessdate = 25 February 2025 }}</ref> The festival is also planned for the [[August Holiday|August Bank Holiday]] weekend in 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.westmeathindependent.ie/2025/02/07/plans-confirmed-for-athlone-river-festivals-august-return/ | website = Westmeath Independent | title = Plans confirmed for Athlone River Festival's August return | date = 7 February 2025 | accessdate = 25 February 2025 }}</ref>

The Athlone Literary Festival is an annual event which began in 1999, originally as a weekend celebration of the life and works of [[John Broderick (writer)|John Broderick]], but which was later expanded to feature a variety of speakers and debaters.{{fact|date=October 2024}}

The [[tenor]] [[John McCormack (tenor)|John McCormack]] was born in Athlone and, for many years, an annual festival was held in the town to celebrate his life.{{fact|date=October 2024}}

Athlone School of Music opened in 2005 and is a grant-aided project aimed at developing music education and services in the Midlands region.{{fact|date=October 2024}}

Abbey Road Artists' Studios launched in 2011 in a building constructed in 1841. These artists' studios, which provide a dedicated space for local and visiting artists, consist of four individual studios as well as a multi-purpose space which is used community cultural events, exhibitions, performances and workshops.<ref>[http://www.athloneartandheritage.ie/artists-studios Abbey Road Artist's Studios Exhibition Space | Athlone Art and Heritage Ltd] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202230355/http://www.athloneartandheritage.ie/artists-studios |date=2 December 2012 }}. Athloneartandheritage.ie.</ref> The Abbey Road artists' studios work closely with the [[Luan Art Gallery]].

In 1954, Athlone became the first branch of the [[Inland Waterways Association of Ireland]] and the town had a large part in the organisation's creation.<ref>[http://www.iwai.ie/org/1950s.html IWAI – Chronology] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234545/http://www.iwai.ie/org/1950s.html |date=3 March 2016 }}. Iwai.ie.</ref>