Culture of Athlone

class="apple-converted-space"> All-Ireland Drama Festival takes place annually in Athlone, and brings together 9 amateur drama groups from across Ireland. The festival is supported by an active fringe which involves street theatre, art exhibitions, workshops and events for young people.

Athlone Literary Festival is an annual event which began in 1999 as a week-end celebration of the life and works of John Broderick (1924–1989), but which now features a great variety of speakers and debaters.

Count John McCormack was born in Athlone and for many years an annual festival celebrated this world-renowned tenor.

The Athlone School of Music opened in October 2005 and is a grant aided project aimed at developing music education and services in the Midlands region