Our Story
Luan Gallery opened in November 2012 as the first dedicated municipal visual art gallery in the midlands to be purpose-built. The Border Midland and Western Regional Assembly, Department of Arts, Heritage, and Gaeltacht, and Athlone Town Council invested €3.4 million in its development.
Overlooking the River Shannon in the heart of Athlone, it blends historic architecture with striking contemporary design, creating a cultural landmark in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, adjacent to the town’s historic bridge, Athlone Castle, Ss. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church, and the new pedestrian and cycleway bridge.
The space adapts the town’s historic 1897 Father Mathew Hall into an art gallery with a new wing, state-of-the-art audio-visual capabilities and a riverfront gallery space overlooking the Shannon. Designed by Keith Williams Architects, the gallery has received international acclaim, winning the RIAI ‘Best Cultural Building in Ireland’ Award in 2013 and the ‘Civic Choice’ Architecture Award in 2014.
Luan Gallery is a welcoming space to experience contemporary art, encouraging conversation, connection, and learning. We work closely with artists, schools, local communities, and cultural organisations to make art accessible, engaging, and relevant. Visitors from across Ireland and around the world are invited to explore, discover, and enjoy our exhibitions while sharing in our passion for contemporary art.
Mission
Our mission is to inspire, connect, and engage people through contemporary visual art. We provide a supportive platform for artists at every stage of their careers, encouraging creativity, professional development, and collaboration. By fostering cultural conversation and offering free entry, educational programmes, workshops, and community projects, we make the arts welcoming, relevant and accessible to everyone. We aim to bring art into everyday life, enrich our local community in Athlone, and share the power of creativity with audiences from across Ireland and around the world.
Vision
Our vision is to be a leading centre for contemporary visual art in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands- a place where creativity flourishes, diverse voices are celebrated, and visitors feel inspired to see the world through new perspectives. Through exhibtions, residencies, and community partnerships, Luan Gallery strives to strengthen the role of art in society and to nurture a culture of openness, curiosity, and discovery.
History
Built in 1897 by William Smith and designed by local architect William A. Tanner, the Fr Mathew Hall has played a central role in Athlone’s cultural life for well over a century. Named after Theobald Mathew (1790–1856), the famous temperance reformer known as Father Mathew, the hall was originally built as a temperance venue. It promoted a sober workforce for the Athlone Woollen Mills and hosted boxing matches, early slide shows, and some of the first productions by the Athlone Musical Society.
The hall welcomed many notable performers, including Athlone-born tenor John McCormack, who appeared on stage here several times. At a concert in 1903, he first shared the stage with Lily Foley, whom he later married. Celebrated Irish songwriter and entertainer Percy French also performed here.
The building was also a platform for important cultural and political voices. Figures such as Douglas Hyde, Countess Markievicz, and Pádraig Pearse addressed audiences here.
In 1912, Pearse spoke at a Gaelic League event, encouraging the people of Athlone to take pride in their native language. In 1920, the building became Athlone’s first cinema, later known as the Savoy. In 1947, the building was gifted to the people of Athlone and following renovations, served as both the Town Hall and the town’s first Public Library. Following its gift to the town in 1947, it served as the Town Hall and Athlone’s first public library until its closure in 2004. In 2004 the library moved to the Civic Centre on Church Street.
Today, the former Fr Mathew Hall lives on as Luan Gallery, a much-loved landmark at the heart of Athlone, embracing the town’s artistic future while honouring its rich past. Its name was chosen through a public competition, inspired by the historical and mythological element ‘Luan’ from the Irish name for Athlone, Áth Luain or Baile Átha Luain – the ford of Luan.