Interview: Dr. Pat Gallagher, Chief Executive, Westmeath County Council

Westmeath: In the Heart of Ireland

How do you assess Westmeath’s economy?

Westmeath’s two biggest towns, Athlone and Mullingar, have their own distinct economies that have developed backed by the regions central location, developed motorway network, excellent utilities, and highly educated workforce.

Mullingar is one hour from Dublin by car, train or bus and has attracted Dublin commuters. Westmeath has sufficient housing, and offers opportunities for further housing developments to ease Dublin’s housing crisis. Athlone has become an economic center for the region, attracted substantial FDI and established a strong medtech and biopharma network alongside an expanding ICT cluster. It is recognized as a designated regional growth center and offers excellent transport, logistics, communications and higher education provision. WCC provides leadership and support for business and investment in the area through its Local Enterprise Office.

What institutions are leading innovation in Westmeath County?

Athlone and Mullingar both have advanced manufacturing facilities. The Athlone Institute of Technology is an award-winning higher education institution named best Institute of Technology in 2018. Its Midlands Innovation and Research Center works in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and provides incubation and business support for innovative companies.

The Irish Manufacturing Research Center in Mullingar recently attracted significant government investment to help manufacturing companies better incorporate new technologies such as additive manufacturing and collaborative robotics with an aim to foment advanced manufacturing practices.

Westmeath offers leading edge innovation and great value for companies. Investors, like Ericsson, have successfully transformed their local operations in Athlone into a high tech research and software facility by tapping into the local talent pool.

How is Westmeath recreating Ireland’s tourism offering?

Westmeath is part of two pivotal tourism regions. Our local storytellers provide unforgettable tours of our ancient sites within Ireland’s Ancient East and our rich heritage in Mullingar’s vibrant music scene has generated many talented musicians. We are also part of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, the newest tourism region, which offers a slow-paced visitor experience, including walking, cycling and boat tours on the iconic River Shannon. The picturesque town of Athlone is known for its strong arts scene, along with must-visit attractions such as Athlone Castle, Sean’s Bar (Ireland’s Oldest Pub) and The Luan Gallery, a contemporary art gallery with breathtaking views.

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