A large crowd attended a farewell party for Fr Hickey in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel in Athlone last night after hopes of a last-minute reprieve faded.

Up to five additional weekday services on the route come into effect this week including an early 5.45am service leaving Dublin.

The free event is being held between 2-5pm with families encouraged to attend.

Behan's fruit and veg in Irishtown has announced it will shut permanently on Saturday week, after serving the area for 36 years.

There were only 43 properties available to rent under the scheme across the entire country in June.

The plans included the construction of a single storey supermarket with an ancillary off-licence sales area.

It happened on the N61 at Hill of Berries, on the road from Roscommon to Athlone, in the past hour.

Athlone and Midland Samaritans is highlighting the range of supports that it offers.