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Things are looking up. There is a “Buzz” out there that hasn’t been heard for a long time. Is it the start of something? The town is busier than normal. Trade is increasing and people are starting to buy at home. As a result, shops are giving a better service and now compare much more favourably to the big supermarkets of the city. There is a “stir” in the property market and an air of expectancy.

We are in the “news” at the moment. Our town has been granted Heritage Status. Crowds are converging on us – to “showcase display days” such as “Sheep ‘96” and “The Rural Development Day” at Teagasc.

People know where we are! Distinguished visitors are dropping in. The place was like Dáil Eireann when An Taoiseach, John Bruton and his ministers came to the launch of The Action Plan for Western Development. We showed them Our Plan – a miniature of that of the Western Development Partnership Board – and they were impressed. In his praise of the Athenry initiative An Taoiseach said “Athenry’s Plan could serve as a model for other areas” Yes it could but it is needed for our own area first.

The membership campaign for Enterprising Athenry A.D.C. Ltd., whose aim is the implementation of that plan, is on at the moment and is going extremely well. Many possible projects are being discussed by the new members. It is heartening to hear of some exciting ideas in the farming sector. While the recent “B.S.E.” scare has sent the cattle and beef trades plummeting to rock bottom there are projects being thought about which can be of great benefit to farmers and will give them the “kick—start” necessary to get over today’s uncertainty and let them look forward with anticipation to a brighter future.

While things are looking up they will not happen on their own. We must be prepared to work together, put our shoulder to the wheel and let our ideas, skills and energy push us into a brighter and more rewarding time to come.

This is our chance – we must grasp it. If we don’t we will be left behind.

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Written by Finbarr O'Regan

Published here 04 Nov 2022 and originally published 1996

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