Moate

The realisation of regeneration opportunities in Moate, in promoting the creation of local employment through the development of tourism and the expansion of services to meet the needs of residents and visitors, together with measures to visually enhance the public realm and historic character of this settlement through positive placemaking and plan-led interventions shall be key in realising the potential of Moate as a Self-Sustaining Growth Town.

Having previously been ‘on the map’ as a traffic bottleneck on the main Dublin to Galway Road (R446), the opening of the M6 motorway bypassing the town to the south has resulted in a substantial reduction of through traffic along the Main Street. This intervention has had a significant impact on Moate and presents an opportunity to redefine the street and existing public spaces and to enhance the existing historic building stock and public realm within the town core.

The unique built heritage of the town separates Moate from other towns and villages of similar scale with the attractive combination of historical railway buildings and infrastructure. While the town has medieval origins that defines the character and pattern of development, the influences of the historical Quaker settlement has left its architectural mark on the town. The special architectural character of Moate has two discrete areas, the Main Street and the Newtown area and the distinctive built forms are protected by way of designated Architectural Conservation Areas (ACA).

While the built heritage of Moate gives the town its defining character, the future social and economic growth of Moate needs to go beyond the act of preservation to evolve and support the future of this rural town in tandem with the tourism offering enabled by Moate’s enviable location located just 12km from Athlone along the Old Rail Trail section of the Galway to Dublin Greenway national cycle network (NCN). The presence of this national recreational infrastructure together with the preservation of the former railway buildings and bridges significantly adds to the appeal and socio-economic potential of Moate and presents a unique opportunity as identified in the Westmeath County Development 2021 – 2027.