The new Ely Property Group development, Athlone Towncentre shopping centre, opens in October of this year and will feature 250,000 sq ft of retail space and house 70 new Irish and international retail outlets.

Combined with Athlone Towncentre will be a new residential development scheduled to open in April 2008. The new development, named Cityquarter, will comprise of 120 residential apartments designed by Irish architects Murray O’Laoire and Associates, and a four star, 166-room Sheraton Hotel.

Featuring two restaurants, a bar, a health and leisure club and a spa, the new hotel will be the third Sheraton hotel to open in Ireland following the five star Sheraton Westin in Dublin and the five star Sheraton Fota Island Golf Resort & Spa in Cork.